4-Amino-N-isopropylbenzamidinium chloride ethanol solvate.

The title compound, C10H16N3+.Cl-.C2H6O, is an important intermediate in the convergent synthesis of amidine-substituted polycyclic heterocycles, a class of compounds that shows significant anticancer activity. The molecule of (I) is not planar, having a dihedral angle of 25.00 (7) degrees between the aniline and amidine (-C-NH=C=NH2) groups. The protonation of the amidine molecular fragment is accompanied by delocalized C-N bond distances of 1.320 (2) and 1.317 (2) A. The cations and chloride anions are involved in a network of hydrogen bonds, resulting in the formation of infinite chains propagating along the b direction. The chains are further grouped within the ab plane, in such a way that the structure is segregated into layers dominated by hydrophobic interactions involving N-isopropyl residues and layers dominated by N-H...Cl [N...Cl = 3.275 (2)-3.596 (2) A], O-H...Cl [O...Cl = 3.229 (3) A] and N-H...O [N...O = 2.965 (3) A] hydrogen bonds.