Urothermal in situ ligand synthesis to fabricate a metal-organic framework with (3,4)-connected tfi topology

A new 3D metal-organic framework [Cu(en)(ntd)](e-urea)(H2O) (1; en = 1,2-ethylenediamine, ntd = 1,4-Naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, e-urea = 2-imidazolidinone hemihydrate), has been synthesized by urothermal method. Structural analysis shows that compound 1 possesses unprecedented (3,4)-connected tfi topology. 2-imidazolidinone, one of the urea derivatives, plays multiple roles in the self-assembly of compound 1.