Square network based upon the molecular salt of the tetraprotonated photoproduct rtct-tetrakis(pyridin-4-yl)cyclobutane and the sulfate anion.

The formation and crystal structure of a hydrated molecular salt that results in a square network is reported. The crystalline solid is based upon the tetraprotonated photoproduct rtct-tetrakis(pyridin-4-yl)cyclobutane (4H-rtct-TPCB)4+ along with two sulfate anions (SO42-) and eight waters of hydration, namely, 4,4',4'',4'''-(cyclobutane-1,2,3,4-tetrayl)tetrapyridinium bis(sulfate) octahydrate, C24H24N44+·2SO42-·8H2O. The fully protonated photoproduct acts as a four-connecting node within the square network by engaging in four charge-assisted N+-H...O hydrogen bonds to the sulfate anion. The observed hydrogen-bonding pattern in this square network is akin to T-silica, which is a metastable form of SiO2. The included water molecules and sulfate anions engage in numerous O-H...O hydrogen bonds to form various hydrogen-bonded ring structures.