Crystal structure of 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazoniatricyclo[16.4.0.07,12]docosane tetrachloride tetrahydrate from synchrotron X-ray data

The crystal structure of the title salt, C20H44N4 4+·4Cl−·4H2O, has been determined using synchrotron radiation at 220 K. The structure determination reveals that protonation has occurred at all four amine N atoms. The asymmetric unit contains one half-cation (completed by crystallographic inversion symmetry), two chloride anions and two water molecules. There are two molecules in the unit cell. The Cl− anions and hydrate molecules are involved in hydrogen bonding. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving the macrocycle N—H groups and water O—H groups as donors and the O atoms of the water molecules and the Cl− anions as acceptors, giving rise to a three-dimensional network.