When the amide-containing receptor 1(+) is in a solution of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the presence of basic anions (CH(3)COO(-), F(-), H(2)PO(4) (-)), it undergoes deprotonation of the -NH fragment to give the corresponding zwitterion, which can be isolated as a crystalline solid. In the presence of less basic anions (Cl(-), Br(-), NO(3) (-)), 1(+) establishes true hydrogen-bond interactions of decreasing intensity. The less acidic receptor 2(+) undergoes neat proton transfer with only the more basic anions CH(3)COO(-) and F(-), and establishes hydrogen-bond interactions with H(2)PO(4) (-). An empirical criterion for discerning neutralisation and hydrogen bonding, based on UV/Vis and (1)H NMR spectra, is proposed.