Syntheses and structures of two chiral zincophosphite compounds: [Zn(C8H8N2)(HPO3)] and (C6H13N2)[Zn3(C6H12N2)(HPO3)3(H2PO3)]

Abstract

Employing achiral organic amines (2-methylbenzimidazole and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) as the structure-directing agent and ligand, two chiral zincophosphites, [Zn(C₈H₈N₂)(HPO₃)] 1 and (C₆H₁₃N₂)[Zn₃(C₆H₁₂N₂)(HPO₃)₃(H₂PO₃)] 2, have been hydro(solvo)-thermally synthesized, crystallizing in the chiral space groupP2₁2₁2₁. Single-crystal structural analysis reveals that compound 1 consists of alternating ZnO₃N and HPO₃ units exhibiting a neutral one-dimensional chiral chain. Interestingly, the organic ligands interact with the inorganic chain viahydrogen-bonds in hydrogen-bonded helix fashion. Compound 2, a three-dimensional chiral open framework with 16-MR channels, is formed by the distorted {Zn₃P₄} secondary building unit (SBU). The organic amine molecules play dual roles as both ligands and countercations.