Inter-anion O–H−···O− hydrogen bond like interactions: the breakdown of the strength–length analogy

It is demonstrated that inter-anion O–H–···O– interactions, commonly regarded as strong hydrogen bonds, are not associated with energetically stable anion–anion interactions; inter-anion O–H–···O– act as a tugboat interaction that control anion aggregation and minimise anion–anion repulsions.