Novel Twofold Interpenetrating Channel Framework Based on Metal Tetramer Subunits

Tetrameric, metal-based subunits, [Ni4(d-ala)2(l-ala)2] (d-ala = d-alanine anion, l-ala = l-alanine anion), designed as nodes to construct coordination frameworks, allowed the synthesis of a new twofold interpenetrating channel architecture {[Ni4(d-ala)2(l-ala)2(1,2-bpe)4]·17H2O}n [1,2-bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene]. Characterization included thermogravimetric analyses, IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Triangular and rectangular short circuits were formed by the tetrameric nodes and 1,2-bpe linkers that consisted of a triangular prism, and they were further assembled into a twofold interpenetrating parallelepiped motif. The hierarchical construction, based on tetramer nodes and the 1,2-bpe linkers in the channel framework, was investigated.