Structure and stability of aminoiminomethanesulfonic acid

The crystal structure of aminoiminomethanesulfonic acid (AIMSOA), (NH2)(2)C SO3, was determined by X-ray crystallography. The molecular geometry about the central C atom of this zwitterionic species was found to be strictly pl anar. The tetrahedral S atom was characterized by three nearly equivalent S -O bonds. The unusually high value for the calculated density of 1.948 g cm (-3) indicated extremely efficient packing of the (NH2)(2)CSO3 molecules in the crystal lattice. Correlation was made between cm stability of (NH2)(2) CSO3 and aminoiminomethanesulfinic acid (AIMSA) (NH2)(2)CSO2 in aqueous sol ution. A number of unexpected differences were observed in their reactiviti es, stabilities and decomposition products. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.