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

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.