Hydrates of the Tetra n-butyl and Tetra i-amyl Quaternary Ammonium Salts

The compounds $\mathrm{[(n}{\mathrm{-C}}_4{\mathrm{H}}_9{)}_4{\mathrm{N}}^{+}{]}_n{\mathrm{X}}^{\mathrm{n-}}\mathrm{·ny}{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$ have been prepared where X is F^‐, Cl^‐, Br^‐, CH₃CO₂^‐, CrO₄^2‐, WO₄^2‐, C₂O₄^2‐, HCO₃^‐, HPO₄^2‐, and y is approximately 32. They form an isomorphous crystal series which is tetragonal with a=23.65±0.15 A, c=12.40±0.15 A. A similar series of the type $\mathrm{[(i}{\mathrm{-C}}_5{\mathrm{H}}_{11}{)}_4{\mathrm{N}}^{+}{]}_n{\mathrm{X}}^{\mathrm{n-}}{\mathrm{\cdot ny}}^{\prime }{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$ has been prepared where X is F^‐, Cl^‐, CrO₄^2‐, WO₄^2‐, and y′ is approximately 40. They also form an isomorphous group which is orthorhombic with a=12.10±0.10 A, b=21.50±0.15 A, c=12.65±0.15 A. These compounds are believed to be of the clathrate type, similar in general character to the gas hydrates.