Bis[2,4‐diamino‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidin‐1‐ium] dl‐malate

Racemic malic acid and trimethoprim [5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidine‐2,4‐diamine] form a 1:2 salt (monoclinic, P2₁/c), 2C₁₄H₁₉N₄O₃⁺·C₄H₄O₅²⁻, in which the malate component is disordered across a centre of inversion. The crystal structure of the salt consists of protonated trimethoprim residues and a malate dianion. The carboxylate group of the malate ion interacts with the trimethoprim cation in a linear fashion through pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds to form a cyclic hydrogen‐bonded motif. This is similar to the carboxylate–trimethoprim cation interaction observed earlier in the complex of dihydrofolate reductase with trimethoprim. The structure of the salt of trimethoprim with racemic dl ‐malic acid reported here is the first of its kind. The present study investigates the conformations and the hydrogen‐bonding interactions, which are very important for biological functions. The pyrimidine plane makes a dihedral angle of 78.08 (7)° with the benzene ring of the trimethoprim cation. The cyclic hydrogen‐bonded motif observed in this structure is self‐organized, leading to novel types of hydrogen‐bonding motifs in supramolecular patterns.