Novel Cerium Bisphosphinate Coordination Polymer and Unconventional Metal–Organic Framework

The first Ce(III)-based coordination polymer ICR-9 (ICR stands for Inorganic Chemistry Řež), with the formula Ce2(C8H10P2O4)3, containing ditopic phenylene-1,4-bis(methylphosphinic acid) linker, was synthetized under solvothermal conditions. The crystal structure, solved using electron diffraction tomography (EDT), revealed 2D layers of octahedrally coordinated cerium atoms attached together through O-P-O bridges. The structure is nonporous, however, the modification of synthetic conditions led to unconventional metal–organic framework (or defective amorphous phase) with a specific surface area up to approximately 400 m2 g-1.