June Sutor and the C-H ··· O hydrogen bonding controversy

• Published in: Crystallography reviews Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 191 - 206
• Main Author: Schwalbe, Carl H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2012; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: C-H ··· O hydrogen bonding; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; controversy; Crystalline state (including molecular motions in solids); D. June Sutor; Exact sciences and technology; Organic compounds; Physics; structural systematics; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Structure of specific crystalline solids; Theory of crystal structure, crystal symmetry; calculations and modeling; Carbon non metal bond; structural systematics; Reviews; Hydrogen bonds; C-H···O hydrogen bonding; D. June Sutor; Case history; controversy; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 0889-311X; 1476-3508
• DOI: 10.1080/0889311X.2012.674945

In 1962, D. June Sutor published the first crystallographic analysis of C-H ··· O hydrogen bonding based on a selection of structures then known. Her follow-up paper the next year cited more structures and provided more details, but her ideas met with formidable opposition. This review begins by describing knowledge of C-H ··· O hydrogen bonding available at the time from physico-chemical and spectroscopic studies. By comparison of structures cited by Sutor with modern redeterminations, the soundness of her basic data set is assessed. The plausibility of the counter-arguments against her is evaluated. Finally, her biographical details are presented along with consideration of factors that might have impeded the acceptance of her work.