Type 8 isoquinolinium zwitter ions were synthesised by the reaction of type 1 diketones or type 2 pyrylium salts with different 5-amino-3-Q-1H-1,2,4-triazoles. Spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction evidence was given for the zwitter ion structure of the products obtained. The position of the negative charge on the 1,2,4-tiazolium ring was proved by comparison of the cmr and uv spectra of the products obtained with the three possible N-benzyl derivatives 14-16 prepared for this purpose.J. Heterocyclic Chem., 38, 403 (2001).Recently, we have reported on the synthesis of pyrazolyl (5) and tetrazolyl (6) isoquinolinium zwitter ions by the reaction of the 1 type ortho-acylphenylacetones or the 2 type pyrylium salts formed from 1 with perchloric acid and different 3-amino-pyrazoles (3) and 5-amino-tetrazoles (4), respectively [2] (Scheme 1).In an effort to synthesise the corresponding 5'-Q-1,2,4-triazol-3'-yl-isoquinolinium salts (8), the above reaction was repeated with different 5-amino-3-Q-1H-1,2,4-triazoles (7) (Scheme 2, Table 1). In all reactions of 1 (or 2) and 7 a single product was obtained. However, in the above reactions 9 and 10 type triazolo-benzodiazocines could also be formed hence, their formation had to be excluded.For this purpose the product formed in the reaction of the simplest 5-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole (amitrole, 7/4, Q = H) and the 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-3-methylpyrylium perchlorate (2, R = 4-chlorophenyl, R 1 = R 2 = methoxy), namely derivative 8/4 (R = 4-chlorophenyl, R 1 = R 2 = methoxy, Q = H) was chosen (Scheme 3). Its pmr and NOEDIF spectra (Scheme 3) helped to exclude structure 10/4 but on the basis of those experiments both structures 8/4 and 9/4 are possible. Even using both the cmr and proton carbon correlated spectra (Scheme 4) it is impossible to choose between structures 8/4 and 9/4. To solve this structural problem unequivocally X-ray diffraction analysis was performed on 8/46 [R = 4-chlorophenyl, R 1 = R 2 = methoxy, Q = 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl] monohydrate (Scheme 5) that formed suitable crystals [3]. It can be seen from its picture that the 1-(4-chlorophenyl) and 2-(1,2,4-triazolium-3'-yl) rings are nearly perpendicular to the plane of the isoquinolinium ring. The delocalisation of the loan electron pair through the 1,2,4-triazole moiety is rather small as seen from the different CN bond lengths of the triazole ring. The most basic nitrogen atom of the triazole ring at position 1 is connected by an H-bond to the hydrogen atom of water in the crystal. The unsymmetrical delocalisation of the loan electron pair in the 5-membered 1,2,4-triazolium heteroring is analogous to that observed previously [2] in the pyrazolium-3-yl series.After recognition of the localisation of the negative charge on the 1,2,4-triazole ring in crystalline form the question arose whether it is also localised in solutions.In our previous work [4-6] we succeeded in proving the tautomeric structures of 5-amino-3-Q-1H-1,2,4-triazoles (7) by comparison of their cmr and uv spectra with different