Tetra-n-butylammonium orotate monohydrate: knowledge-based comparison of the results of accurate and lower-resolution analyses and a non-routine disorder refinement.

The title hydrated mol­ecular salt (systematic name: tetra-n-butyl­ammonium 2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetra­hydro­pyrimidine-4-carboxyl­ate monohydrate), C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·C₅H₃N₂O₄⁻·H₂O, crystallizes with N—H∙∙∙O and O—H∙∙∙O hydrogen-bonded double-stranded anti­parallel ribbons consisting of the hydro­philic orotate monoanions and water mol­ecules, separated by the bulky hydro­phobic cations. The hydro­phobic and hydro­philic regions of the structure are joined by weaker non-classical C—HO hydrogen bonds. An accurate structure analysis conducted at T = 100 K is compared to a lower-resolution less accurate determination using data measured at T = 295 K. The results of both analyses are evaluated using a knowledge-based approach, and it is found that the less accurate room-temperature structure analysis provides geometric data that are similar to those derived from the accurate low-temperature analysis, with both sets of results consistent with previously analyzed structures. A minor disorder of one methyl group in the cation at low temperature was found to be slightly more complex at room temperature; while still involving a minor fraction of the structure, the disorder at room temperature was found to require a non-routine treatment, which is described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]