The title compound, C8H10NO2+.C4HO4-.H2O, crystallizes in the orthorho
mbic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) in a layered structure of charged pheny
lglycinium and squarate/water layers stacked along the c axis and held
together by an extensive hydrogen-bonding network. The amino group of
the phenylglycine molecule adopts a proton from the squaric acid. The
C-C bond lengths within the squarate anion are consistent with a delo
calized double bond around the hydroxyl-bearing C atom: 1.414 (3) and
1.431 (3) Angstrom versus 1.481 (3) and 1.494 (3) Angstrom for the opp
osite bonds in the ring.