X-ray structural data for alpha-aminopropanephosphonic acid (APPA), together with H-1 NMR spectroscopy including PANIC and WIN-DAISY spectral simulation, and theoretical calculations using the programs VAMP 4.4 (PM3) and GAUSSIAN 92 (3-21G**), confirm an antistaggered relationship between the methyl and phosphonic acid groups in this zwitterionic compound, both in the solid state and in aqueous solution. P-31{H-1} and C-13{H-1}-NMRcontrolled titrations provide information on pK(a) values, proton exchange, ion-specific chemical shifts, and coupling constants in solution. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:314-325, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20609