Experimental

R factor = 0.027; wR factor = 0.072; data-to-parameter ratio = 19.2. In the title salt [common name l-carnitine hydrochloride], C7H16NO3 +Cl, the organic cation features a carboxylic part (–CO2H) having unambigous single- and double-bonds [1.336 (2), 1.211 (2) Å]. There is a large N—C—C bond angle [115.9 (1)] for the C atom connected to the bulky trimethyl-amino substituent. In the crystal, the acid H atom forms a hydrogen bond to the chloride anion, whereas the hydroxyl H atom forms a longer hydrogen bond to the anion, generating a helical chain running along [001]. Related literature For racemic carnitine hydrochloride, see: Tomita et al. (1974)