Inter-anion O–H–···O– hydrogen bond like interactions: the breakdown of the strength–length analogy

Abstract

It is demonstrated that inter-anion O–H^–···O^– interactions, commonly regarded as strong hydrogen bonds, are not associated with energetically stable anion–anion interactions; inter-anion O–H^–···O^– act as a tugboat interaction that control anion aggregation and minimise anion–anion repulsions.