A 2,2-dimethylbutynoic acid with 7 pyridone terminus (1) acts as its s
elf-complement in molecular recognition to form nn intermolecularly hy
drogen-banded dimer with hydrogen bonding between the amide and carbox
ylic acid group. The dimer is found in crystals of 1 by X-ray diffract
ion, chloroform solution by H-1-NMR experiments and Vapor pressure osm
ometry, and in the gas phase by FAB-MS.