Hydrogen bonding : Part 17. IR and NMR study of the lower hydrates of choline chloride

Choline chloride forms two lower hydrates — a dihydrate and a monohydrate — with quite unusual properties. The dihydrate is a highly structured liquid salt; the IR spectrum is similar to that of a crystalline framework clathrate hydrate, and there are separate ¹H-NMR signals for the cation hydroxyl and water protons. The dihydrate is a crystalline solid at reduced pressure. The crystalline monohydrate only exists at reduced pressure; at atmospheric pressure it disproportionates to liquid dihydrate and anhydrous choline chloride. The anhydrous choline chloride thus formed is a previously unreported crystal modification of choline chloride.