Very strong C-H...O, N-H...O, and O-H...O hydrogen bonds involving a cyclic phosphate.

Very short C-H...O, N-H...O, and O-H...O hydrogen bonds have been generated utilizing the cyclic phosphate [CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2]P(O)OH (1). X-ray structures of (i) 1 (unsolvated, two polymorphs), 1...EtOH, and 1...MeOH, (ii) [imidazolium](+)[CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2PO2](-)...MeOH [2], (iii) [HNC5H4-N=N-C5H4NH](2+)[(CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2PO2)2](2-)...4CH3CN...H2O [3], (v) [K, 18-crown-6](+)[(CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2P(O)OH)(CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2PO2)](-)...2THF [4], (vi) 1...cytosine...MeOH [5], (vii) 1...adenine...1/2MeOH [6], and (viii) 1...S-(-)-proline [7] have been determined. The phosphate 1 in both its forms is a hydrogen-bonded dimer with a short O-H...O distance of 2.481(2) [triclinic form] or 2.507(3) A [monoclinic form]. Compound 2 has a helical structure with a very short C-H...O hydrogen bond involving an imidazolyl C-H and methanol in addition to N-H...O hydrogen bonds. A helical motif is also seen in 5. In 3, an extremely short N-H...O hydrogen bond [N...O 2.558(4) A] is observed. Compounds 6 and 7 also exhibit short N-H...O hydrogen bonds. In 1...EtOH, a 12-membered hydrogen-bonded ring motif, with one of the shortest known O-H...O hydrogen bonds [O...O 2.368(4) A], is present. 1...MeOH is a similar dimer with a very short O(-H)...O bond [2.429(3) A]. In 4, the deprotonated phosphate (anion) and the parent acid are held together by a hydrogen bond on one side and a coordinate/covalent bond to potassium on the other; the O-H...O bond is symmetrical and very strong [O...O 2.397(3) A].     

Relationship between the bond lengths in N-H...N,O-H...O,F-H...F,and Cl-H...Cl hydrogen bridges

The applicability of the equation $ e^{ - ((r_1 - r_0 )/b)^{5/3} } + e^{ - ((r_2 - r_0 )/b)^{5/3} } = 1 $ e^{ - ((r_1 - r_0 )/b)^{5/3} } + e^{ - ((r_2 - r_0 )/b)^{5/3} } = 1 has been studied. The equation defines the relationship between the experimental values of the covalent (r ₁) and hydrogen (r ₂) bond lengths in O-H...O bridges for describing the relation between the experimental interatomic distances in N-H...N bridges and the parameters of X-H...X fragments (X = O, N, F, Cl) calculated by the density functional method (B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)) for neutral, positive, and negative molecular complexes. Here r ₀ is the mean value of the X-H bond length in free molecules; r _sym is the X...H distance in the symmetrical bridge; and b is the coefficient defined by the equation b = (r _sym − r ₀)/(ln2)^3/5. This equation allows us to adequately describe the relationships between bond lengths in nearly linear hydrogen bridges formed by oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, and chlorine atoms. It is thus universal and can be used in studies of a wide range of substances.     

The C-H...O and C-H...N intramolecular hydrogen bonds in betainealdehydes of azoles containing the pyridinium cation

The comparison of the values of the chemical shifts of the pyridinium protons in the ylides of -dicarbonyl compounds and in betainealdehydes of thiazole and imidazole established the presence of the intramolecular C-H...O and C-H...N hydrogen bond between the -protons of the pyridinium and the oxygen atoms of the formyl group and the nitrogen of the amide fragment in the anionoid part of the betaine. The conclusion was confirmed by the varying influence of the effects of protonation on the character of the deshielding of the - and -protons.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 626–628, May, 1989.     

Limitations of the molecular multipole expansion treatment of electrostatic interactions for C-H...O and O-H...O hydrogen bonds and application of a general charge density approach

A molecular multipole expansion treatment (up to hexadecapole) is examined for its accuracy in describing hydrogen-bond electrostatic interactions, with particular reference to explaining the differences between blue-shifted C-H...O and red-shifted O-H...O bonds. In interactions of H2O and CH4 with point charges at hydrogen-bonding distances, we find that the molecular multipole treatment not only fails to reproduce ab initio energies but also forces on OH or CH bonds, and therefore cannot properly account for the electrostatic component of the interaction. A treatment based on a molecule's permanent charge density and its derivatives and the charge density and its derivatives induced by an external multipole distribution is in full accord with ab initio results, as shown by application to models of the H2O-H2O and CH4-FH systems. Such a charge density approach provides a fundamental basis for understanding the importance of interaction forces in initiating structural change and thereby altering molecular properties.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic investigation of aggregation through cooperative pi-pi and C-H...O interactions in a novel pyrene octaaldehyde derivative

[reaction: see text] Synthesis of a pyrene octaaldehyde derivative and its aggregation through pi-pi and C-H...O interactions in solution and in the solid state probed by fluorescence emission and other spectroscopic methods are reported. The effect of solvent, concentration, and temperature on the aggregation is investigated.     

Characterization of persistent intramolecular C-H...X(N,O) bonds in solid state and solution

The formation of intramolecular CH...X(N,O) bonds and their persistence in solution were studied by X-ray crystallography and NMR techniques in two different rotamers of a molecule containing the ortho-carborane cage, an amide group and a quinoline ring. Experimental data were confirmed by theoretical ab initio calculations. From the resolved structure of the two forms of this potentially active drug for boron neutron capture therapy, accurate bonding and geometric parameters were extracted for this non-classic hydrogen interaction, and their strength was calculated. These findings provided new insight in the theory of CH...X bonds, which appear stronger and less rare than it was previously thought.     

QTAIM study of strong H-bonds with the O-H...a fragment (A=O, N) in three-dimensional periodical crystals

The relationship between the d(H...A) distance (A=O, N) and the topological properties at the H...A bond critical point of 37 strong (short) hydrogen bonds occurring in 26 molecular crystals are analyzed using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). Ground-state wave functions of the three-dimensional periodical structures representing the accurate experimental geometries calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of approximation were used to obtain the QTAIM electron density characteristics. The use of an electron-correlated method allowed us to reach the quantitatively correct values of electron density rhob at the H...A bond critical point. However, quite significant differences can appear for small absolute values of the Laplacian (<0.5 au). The difference between the H...O and H...N interactions is described using the rhob versus d(H...A) dependence. It is demonstrated that the values of parameters in this dependence are defined by the nature of the heavy atom forming the H...A bond. An intermediate (or transit) region separating the shared and closed-shell interactions is observed for the H-bonded crystals in which the bridging proton can move from one heavy atom to another. The crystalline environment changes the location of the bridging proton in strong H-bonded systems; however, the d(O-H)/d(H...O) ratio is approximately the same for both the gas-phase complexes and molecular crystals with a linear or near-linear O-H...O bond.     

Self-assembly of mercaptane-metallacarborane complexes by an unconventional cooperative effect: a C-H...S-H...H-B hydrogen/dihydrogen bond interaction

The existence of a dihydrogen bond (S-H...H-B) and its combination with a C-H...S hydrogen bond in an unusual cooperative effect are demonstrated from a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. This cooperative effect seems to be responsible for self-assembly of mercaptane-metallacarborane complexes such as closo-[3-Ru(eta6-C6H6)-8-HS-1,2-C2B9H10] (1) and closo-[3-Co(eta5-C5H5)-8-HS-1,2-C2B9H10] (3), which present identical supramolecular two-dimensional polymeric networks. The findings, besides documenting structurally the first S-H...(H-B)2 dihydrogen bond and the unconventional cooperative ability of a boron-attached SH group, prove that substituted carboranes have the potential to serve as building blocks for assembling complex structures.     

Inclusion compounds of tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)methane: C-H...O networks, pseudopolymorphism, and structural transformations.

Tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)methane is a new host material with considerable structural adaptability over a range of solvents. The crystal structures of 14 of these solvates have been determined and classified into three groups. The diamondoid group, wherein the host molecules form a 2-fold interpenetrated diamondoid network structure, is unprecedented in that network connections are made exclusively with weak C-H...O and pi...pi interactions. This group consists of the solvates of THF, dioxane, nitrobenzene, 4-bromoanisole, anisole, phenetole, p-xylene, and chlorobenzene. The rhombohedral group, which is characterized by specific host.guest interactions of the C-H...O and halogen...O2N type, consists of the solvates of CHCl3 and CHBr3 and somewhat surprisingly DMF, which shows an unusual 3-fold disorder mimicking in part the shape and size of the haloform molecules though not their orientation. The third group comprises solvent-rich solvates of the host with mesitylene, collidine, and o-xylene with quite different crystal structures. The THF solvate was found to lose solvent over limited temperature ranges transforming reversibly from the diamondoid structure to the rhombohedral structure. A mechanism for this process is outlined. Material from which solvent has been removed by heating was also found to resolvate upon soaking in appropriate solvents. In summary, the title compound forms a host network that is partially robust and in part flexible. It is possible that this fluxional nature of the host network derives from the weakness of the connecting interactions.     

Supramolecular synthons based on N-H...N and C-H...O hydrogen bonds. Crystal engineering of a helical structure with 5,5-diethylbarbituric acid

5,5-Diethylbarbituric acid is a convenient molecular precursor for a newly identified N-H...N/C-H...O synthon, which is robust enough for the design of a helix architecture.     

Steric effect on construction of extended architectures of Ni(II) complexes directed by intermolecular C-H...F and C-H...O interactions

Five new Ni(II) complexes with pyridine carboxamide ligands have been synthesized and the crystal structures of three of the complexes were determined. Strong distortion effects of 6-methyl substitution were observed in the complexes with 6-methyl-substituted pyridyl bpb ligands. The C-H...F and C-H...O hydrogen bond interactions build extended architectures in the crystals studied. This result suggests that the steric effect of 6-methyl substitution plays an important role in the distortion of the structure, and the 6-methyl substitution can facilitate hydrogen bond interactions between methyl hydrogen atoms and O(carbonyl) or F atoms. Twelve Ni(II) complexes, including seven complexes reported previously, show reversible redox behavior, implying that the reduced Ni(I) state of each complex is stable in the time scale of CV measurement. The steric effect of R₁ substituent and the electronic effects of X₁ and X₂ groups were found to be the main factors contributing to the shift of the redox potential of the Ni(II) complexes     

Competing magnetic interactions in a dinuclear Ni(II) complex: antiferromagnetic O-H...O moiety and ferromagnetic N3- ligand

Synthesis, structural characteristics, magnetic studies and DFT calculations in Ni(II) dinuclear complexes containing two bridging N3- and an O-H...O linkage reveal the existence of ferromagnetic interactions between Ni(II) centers via N3- ligands and antiferromagnetic interactions through the H-bonded moiety. The overall magnetic behavior of the system depends on the delicate balance between these two competing interactions.     

C-H...O hydrogen bonding in 4-phenyl-benzaldehyde: a comprehensive crystallographic, spectroscopic and computational study

The crystal structure of 4-phenyl-benzaldehyde reveals the presence of a dimer linked by the C=O and C9-H groups of adjacent molecules. In the liquid phase, the presence of C-H...O bonded forms is revealed by both vibrational and NMR spectroscopy. A DeltaH value of -8.2 +/- 0.5 kJ mol(-1) for the dimerisation equilibrium is established from the temperature-dependent intensities of the bands assigned to the carbonyl-stretching modes. The NMR data suggest the preferential engagement of the C(2,6)-H and C(10/12)/C(11)-H groups as hydrogen bond donors, instead of the C(9)-H group. While ab initio calculations for the isolated dimers are unable to corroborate these NMR results, the radial distribution functions obtained from molecular dynamics simulations show a preference for C(2,6)-H and C(10/12)/C(11)-H...O contacts relative to the C(9)-H...O ones.     

O-H ... O(S) hydrogen bonds in 2-hydroxy(thio)benzamides. Survey of spectroscopic and structural data

Summary From a survey of spectroscopic and structural data of six corresponding 2-hydroxybenzamides and 2-hydroxythiobenzamides (amide, N-methylamide, N,N-dimethylamide, piperidide, morpholide, 2,6-dimethylpiperidide) remarkable similarities between O(N)-H ... O and O(N)-H ... S hydrogen-bonds are obtained, concerning both, hydrogen-bond patterns and hydrogen-bond strengths. In dilute solution the OH groups of all compounds are intramolecularly associated to the (thio)carbonyl O (S) atoms with distinctly larger hydrogen-bond strengths for primary and secondary amides [ (O-H)=2950–3020 cm^–1, (OH)=12.16–11.99 ppm] and thioamides [ (O-H)=2960–3000 cm^–1, (OH)=11.65–11.13 ppm], than for tertiary amides [ (O-H)=3200–3250 cm^–1, (OH)=9.95–8.95 ppm] and thioamides [ (O-H)=3245–3330 cm^–1, (OH)=8.09–7.06 ppm]. In the solid state, the OH groups of the primary and secondary (thio)amides are also engaged in rather strong intramolecular O-H ... O=C [O ... O=2.51 Å, (O-H)=2700–2750 cm^–1] and O-H ... S=C [O ... S=2.90–2.94 Å, (O-H)=2700–2840 cm^–1] hydrogen-bonds; thetrans-NH groups of the primary (thio)amides and the NH groups of the secondary (thio)amides connect the molecules to N-H ... O-H [N ... O=2.93–3.10 Å, (N-H)=3319–3407 cm^–1] hydrogen-bonded chains; the remainingcis-NH groups of the primary (thio)amides give rise to eight-membered cyclic dimers via N-H ... O=C [N ... O=2.93 Å, (N-H)=3226 cm^–1] and N-H ... S=C [N ... S=3.46–3.47 Å, (N-H)=3233–3277 cm^–1] hydrogen-bonds. Contrary, the OH groups of the tertiary (thio)amides are intermolecular associated in the solid state and link the molecules to O-H ... O=C [O ... O=2.63–2.75 Å, (O-H)=3075–3135 cm^–1] and O-H ... S=C [O ... S=3.18–3.26 Å, (O-H)=3130–3190 cm^–1] hydrogen-bonded chains.

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O-H ... O(S)-Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen in 2-Hydroxy(thio)benzamiden. Ein Überblick über spektroskopische und strukturelle Daten

Zusammenfassung Aus einer Zusammenstellung von spektroskopischen und strukturellen Daten von sechs entsprechenden 2-Hydroxybenzamiden und 2-Hydroxythiobenzamiden (Amid, N-Methylamid, N,N-Dimethylamid, Piperidid, Morpholid, 2,6-Dimethylpiperidid) ergeben sich bemerkenswerte Analogien zwischen O(N)-H ... O und O(N)-H ... S H-Brücken, die sowohl die H-Brücken-Muster als auch die H-Brücken-Stärken betreffen. In verdünnter Lösung sind die OH-Gruppen aller Verbindungen intramolekular mit den O(S)-Atomen der (Thio)Carbonylgruppen assoziiert, wobei die H-Brücken bei den primären und sekundären Amiden [ (O-H)=2950–3020 cm^–1, (OH)=12.16–11.99 ppm] und Thioamiden [ (O-H)=2960–3060 cm^–1, (OH)=11.65–11.13 ppm] deutlich stärker sind, als bei den tertiären Amiden [ (O-H)=3200–3250 cm^–1, (OH)=9.95–8.95 ppm] und Thioamiden [ (O-H)=3245–3330 cm^–1, (OH)=8.09–7.06 ppm]. Im Festkörper weisen die primären und sekundären (Thio)Amide ebenfalls sehr starke intramolekulare O-H ... O=C [O ... O=2.51 Å, (O-H)=2700–2750 cm^–1] und O-H ... S=C [O ... S=2.90–2.94 Å, (O-H)=2700–2840 cm^–1] H-Brücken auf; dietrans-NH-Gruppen der primären (Thio)Amide und die NH-Gruppen der sekundären (Thio)Amide verknüpfen die Moleküle über N-H ... O-H H-Brücken [N ... O=2.93–3.10 Å, (N-H)=3318–3407 cm^–1] zu Ketten; die verbleibendencis-NH-Gruppen der primären (Thio)Amide bilden zyklische, über N-H ... O=C [N ... O=2.93 Å, (N-H)=3226 cm^–1] und N-H ... S=C [N ... S=3.46–3.47 Å, (N-H)=3233–3277 cm^–1] H-Brücken gebundene, 8-Ring-Dimere. Im Gegensatz dazu sind die OH-Gruppen der tertiären (Thio)Amide im Festkörper intermolekular assoziiert und verknüpfen die Moleküle über O-H ... O=C [O ... O=2.63–2.75 Å, (O-H)=3075–3135 cm^–1] und O-H ... S=C [O ... S=3.18–3.26 Å, (O-H)=3130–3190 cm^–1] H-Brücken zu Ketten.

     

Comparison of the effects of the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds C-H...X (X = O,N) in1H and13C NMR spectra

A similarity between manifestations of the effects of the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds C-H...X (X = O, N) in¹H and¹³C NMR spectra has been shown. A correlated increase in the direct spin-spin coupling constant¹³C—¹H and the chemical shifts of the proton participating in the interaction has been observed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriyo Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1205–1207, May, 1996.     

Aromatic C-H...O interactions in a series of bindone analogues. NMR and quantum mechanical study

The aromatic C-H...O hydrogen bonding within the series of the structurally relative indenone derivatives has been studied. The presence of the hydrogen bonds is corroborated by the large low-field chemical shifts of the protons involved in the hydrogen bond observed experimentally and reproduced by quantum mechanical calculations. Further confirmation is provided by analysis of the orbital overlap coefficients, (13)C NMR chemical shifts, and one-bond spin-spin coupling constants J((13)C-(1)H). The relationship between molecular geometry and (1)H NMR chemical shifts of involved protons has a complex nature, but the C-H...O distance is the principal factor.     

3D coordination polymers with nitrilotriacetic and 4,4'-bipyridyl mixed ligands: structural variation based on dinuclear or tetranuclear subunits assisted by Na-O and/or O-H...O interactions

The reactions of Cu(II) with the mixed nitrilotriacetic acid (H3NTA) and 4,4'-bipyridyl (4,4'-bpy) ligands in different metal-to-ligand ratios in the presence of NaOH and NaClO4 afforded two complexes, Na3[Cu2(NTA)2(4,4'-bpy)]ClO4 x 5H2O (1) and [Cu2(NTA) (4,4'-bpy)2]ClO4 x 4H2O (2). The two complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, XRD, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 contains a basic doubly negatively charged [Cu2(NTA)2(4,4'-bpy)]2- dinuclear unit which was further assembled via multiple Na-O and O-H...O interactions into a three-dimensional (3D) pillared-layer structure. 2 features a two-dimensional (2D) undulated brick-wall architecture containing a basic doubly positively charged [Cu4(NTA)2(4,4'-bpy)2]2+ tetranuclear unit. The 2D network possesses large cavities hosting guest molecules and was further assembled via O-H...O hydrogen bonds into a 3D structure with several channels running in different directions.     

Diversity of new structural types in polynuclear iron chemistry with a tridentate N,N,O ligand

The syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetochemical characterization of four new iron clusters [Fe7O4(O2CPh)11(dmem)2] (1), [Fe7O4(O2CMe)11(dmem)2] (2), [Fe6O2(OH)4(O2CBut)8(dmem)2] (3), and [Fe3O(O2CBut)2(N3)3(dmem)2] (4) (dmemH=Me2NCH2CH2N(Me)CH2CH2OH)=2-{[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]methylamino}ethanol) are reported. The reaction of dmemH with [Fe3O(O2CR)6(H2O)3](NO3) (R=Ph (1), Me (2), and But (3)) gave 1, 2, and 3, respectively, whereas 4 was obtained from the reaction of 3 with sodium azide. The complexes all possess rare or novel core topologies. The core of 1 comprises two [Fe4(mu3-O)2]8+ butterfly units sharing a common body Fe atom. The core of 2 consists of a [Fe3O3] ring with each doubly bridging O2- ion becoming mu3 by also bridging to a third, external Fe atom; a seventh Fe atom is attached on the outside of this core via an additional mu3-O2- ion. The core of 3 consists of a [Fe4(mu3-O)2]8+ butterfly unit with an Fe atom attached above and below this by bridging O atoms. Finally, the core of 4 is an isosceles triangle bridged by a mu3-O2- ion with a rare T-shaped geometry and with the azide groups all bound terminally. Variable-temperature, solid-state dc, and ac magnetization studies were carried out on complexes 1-4 in the 5.0-300 K range. Fitting of the obtained magnetization (M) vs field (H) and temperature (T) data by matrix diagonalization and including only axial anisotropy (zero-field splitting) established that 1, 2, and 4 each possess an S=5/2 ground state spin, whereas 3 has an S=5 ground state. As is usually the case, good fits of the magnetization data could be obtained with both positive and negative D values. To obtain more accurate values and to determine the sign of D, high-frequency EPR studies were carried out on single crystals of representative complexes 1.4MeCN and 3.2MeCN, and these gave D=+0.62 cm-1 and |E|>or=0.067 cm-1 for 1.4MeCN and D=-0.25 cm-1 for 3.2MeCN. The magnetic susceptibility data for 4 were fit to the theoretical chiM vs T expression derived by the use of an isotropic Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian and the Van Vleck equation, and this revealed the pairwise exchange parameters to be antiferromagnetic with values of Ja=-3.6 cm-1 and Jb=-45.9 cm-1. The combined results demonstrate the ligating flexibility of dmem and its usefulness in the synthesis of a variety of Fex molecular species.     

Geometric isotope effect of various intermolecular and intramolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds, using the multicomponent molecular orbital method

The geometric isotope effect (GIE) of sp- (acetylene-water), sp(2)- (ethylene-water), and sp(3)- (methane-water) hybridized intermolecular C-H...O and C-D...O hydrogen bonds has been analyzed at the HF/6-31++G level by using the multicomponent molecular orbital method, which directly takes account of the quantum effect of proton/deuteron. In the acetylene-water case, the elongation of C-H length due to the formation of the hydrogen bond is found to be greater than that of C-D. In contrast to sp-type, the contraction of C-H length in methane-water is smaller than that of C-D. After the formation of hydrogen bonds, the C-H length itself in all complexes is longer than C-D and the H...O distance is shorter than D...O, similar to the GIE of conventional hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the exponent (alpha) value is decreased with the formation of the hydrogen bond, which indicates the stabilization of intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds as well as conventional hydrogen bonds. In addition, the geometric difference induced by the H/D isotope effect of the intramolecular C-H...O hydrogen bond shows the same tendency as that of intermolecular C-H...O. Our study clearly demonstrates that C-H...O hydrogen bonds can be categorized as typical hydrogen bonds from the viewpoint of GIE, irrespective of the hybridizing state of carbon and inter- or intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

Interanionic (-)O-H...O(-) interactions: a solid-state and computational study of the ring and chain motifs

The (-)O-H...O(-) interaction formed by the anions HCO3-, HCO4, HC4O4 and HC5O5- (HA-), obtained upon monodeprotonation of the corresponding carbonic, oxalic, squaric and croconic acids (H2A), has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. The ring (RING) and chain (CHAIN) hydrogen bond motifs established between these anions have been analysed in terms of geometry and energy and their occurrence in crystalline salts investigated by searching the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and the Inorganic Chemistry Structural Database (ICSD). It has been shown that hydrogen carbonates form RINGs, with the notable exception of NaHCO3, while only CHAINs are known for hydrogen oxalates. Hydrogen squarates and hydrogen croconates can form both RINGs and CHAINs. The structures of Rb- and Cs- hydrogen croconates, which present the two alternative motifs, have been discussed together with that of the hydrated salt NaHC5O5.H2O. The relationship between RING and CHAIN has been examined in the light of ab initio calculations. A rigorous quantum chemical study of the nature of the interanionic (-)O-H...O(-) interaction in both vacuum and condensed phase has shown that the interaction energy is dominated by the electrostatic component which becomes attractive at short O...O distances (less than 2.5 A) if the net ionic charge on the anion is delocalised away from the -OH group. It has been demonstrated that the RING motif is slightly metastable with respect to dissociation in the gas phase, but becomes stable in the crystal owing to the influence of the Madelung field. However, the CHAIN motif is unstable both in the gas phase and in the crystal. It is argued that interanionic (-)O-H...O(-) interactions ought to be regarded as stabilising bonding interactions rather than proper intermolecular hydrogen bonds because the RING and CHAIN aggregates are not energetically stable on an absolute scale of bonding energy (i.e., in the absence of counterions). The presence of very short non-hydrogen-bridged O...O contacts resulting from charge compression of polyatomic anions bridged by alkali cations is also discussed.