| Abstract: | The title complex, obtained by treating ortho‐benzenedisulfonimide (HZ) with LiOH in aqueous solution, has been characterized by low‐temperature X‐ray diffraction (triclinic, space group P&1macr;, Z' = 1). The lithium cation is bonded to one sulfonyl oxygen atom and three water molecules in a distorted tetrahedral configuration [Li‐O 189.3(3)‐201.2(3) pm, O‐Li‐O 98.5(2)‐123.2(2)?]. The zero‐dimensional [Li(Z)(H2O)3] complexes, which display an intramolecular O(W)‐H···O hydrogen bond, are cross‐linked via five O(W)‐H···O/N/O(W) interactions and a remarkably short C‐H···O bond (H···O 217 pm, C‐H···O 170?) to form a two‐dimensional assembly comprising an internal polar lamella of metal cations, (SO2)2N groups and water molecules, and hydrophobic peripheral regions consisting of protruding benzo groups. In the packing, alternate carbocycles drawn from adjacent layers set up a π‐stacking array of parallel aromatic rings (intercentroid distances 349 and 369 pm, cycle spacings 331 and 336 pm). In a short survey, the currently known crystal packings of seven MIZ · n H2O (n ≥ 0) complexes are examined and compared. |
