GHB Salts, K, NA...

[hester18]

When GBL is converted a GHB salt using KOH or NaOH what is the bonding mechanism involved between them? In the merck index it says that the formula for the sodium salt is C4H8NaO3, but no model is shown. Erowid (who says their models come from the merck index) shows that the sodium is actually bonded to what remains of a GHB molecule minus the hydrogen atom at the far hydroxyl group. So then the fomula would be C4H7NaO3 and GHB is C4H8O3.  What is the true formula and what is the bonding between the salt and the GHB molecule?

[Chromic]

Saponification of the GBL to NaGHB produces a salt... most salts have some sort of crystalline order... I doubt NaGHB is any different. You've got Na(+) and HOCH2CH2COO(-) ions fitting into some sort of latticework based on the relative sizes of the ions, charges, etc.