An unprecedented (3,4)-connected self-penetrating network of zinc complex : In situ formation of a tetradentate N-heterocyclic ligand under POMs-mediated hydrothermal conditions

Abstract The reaction of lacunary polyanion [α-H 2 P 2 W 12 O 48 ] 12− , zinc acetate, bpp (1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane) and BTC (1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) in an acidic aqueous solution led to the isolation of a new complex [Zn 3 (BTC) 2 (chtpy)(H 2 O) 2 ] · 2H 2 O ( 1 ), which crystallizes in the space group C 2/ c with a  = 28.988(6) A, b  = 11.254(2) A, c  = 17.347(4) A, V  = 4682.5(2) A 3 , Z  = 4. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that there exists the generation of in situ ligand through simultaneous dehydrogenative coupling and hydroxylation of an N-heterocyclic ligand in complex 1 . More interestingly, it exhibits an unprecedented (3,4)-connected (8 2 .10) 2 (8 3 ) 2 (8 4 .10.12)(8 5 .10) topology which has been reported for the first time and shows self-penetrating nature at the same time.