Crystal and molecular structure of 1-amino-1-methylethylphosphonic acid monohydrate

The crystal and molecular structure of 1-amino-1-methylethylphosphonic acid monohydrate (C₃H₁₀NO₃P·H₂O) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The crystals are orthorhombic:Pna2₁,a=11.665(2),b=9.415(1),c=6.386(1) Å,Z=4. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method and refined to a finalR=0.028. The molecule exists as a zwitterion, H ₃ ⁺ N-C-(CH₃)₂-PO₃₄H^–. There are six independent hydrogen bonds in the structure, three of the type N-HO with lengths 2.904(5), 2.745(6), and 2.765(5) Å and three of the type O-HO with lengths 2.754(4), 2.833 (7), and 2.548(5) Å.