Growth and characterization of L-prolinium phosphite

•New L-prolinium phosphite crystal was grown.•Crystal structure was determined.•The crystal is characterized by vibrational spectral, thermal, NLO properties. Single crystal of L-prolinium phosphite was grown by evaporation method from aqueous solution. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (space group P212121, Z=4). The asymmetric unit contains one L-prolinium cation and one phosphite (HPO2(OH))− anion. The phosphite anions form a chain by hydrogen bond OH…O with O…O distance 2.5601(15)Å parallel [010]. The L-prolinium cations bridge two chains of anions by OH…O and NH…O hydrogen bonds with O…O and N…O distances 2.505(2)Å and 2.718(2)Å respectively. The infrared and Raman spectra are registered and discussed. Thermal behavior was studied. Phase-matched SHG was observed.