An organically templated iron phosphate,
[HN(CH
2
CH
2
)
3
NH]
3
[Fe
8
(HPO
4
)
12
(PO
4
)
2
(H
2
O)
6
], has been synthesized under solvothermal
conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction,
Mössbauer spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The compound
crystallizes in the trigonal space group P
![[3 with combining macron]](https://www.rsc.org/images/entities/char_0033_0304.gif)
c1
(no. 165) with a = 13.5274(5),
c = 19.2645(6) Å,
U = 3052.9(3) Å
3
and
Z = 2. The structure consists of layers of
corner-sharing FeO
6
and FeO
5
(OH
2
)
octahedra and PO
4
and PO
3
(OH) tetrahedra which are
pillared through additional FeO
6
octahedra to form a
three-dimensional framework structure. The framework contains a
two-dimensional array of intersecting channels in which the charge
compensating diprotonated 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane cations reside.
The framework is closely related to that of an imidazole encapsulating
indium phosphate,
[H
3
O][C
3
N
2
H
5
]
3
[In
8
(HPO
4
)
14
(H
2
O)
6
]·5H
2
O.