Sodium templated formation of a unique tetradecanuclear {Zn12(μ3-OH)6Na2(μ2-O)}18 + hetero-metal cluster core having an auxiliary bithiazole dibenzoate ligand

A three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework having a unique tetradecanuclear {Zn12(μ3-OH)6Na2(μ2-O)}18 + hetero-metal cluster core, formulated as {Zn12(BTDA)9(μ3-OH)6Na2(μ2-O)} (1) [H2BTDA = 4,4ʹ-(4,4ʹ-dibutyl-2,2ʹ-bithiazole-5,5ʹ-diyl)dibenzoic acid], has been described herein. The tetradecanuclear hetero-metal cluster core is composed of two heptanuclear {Zn6(μ3-OH)3Na}10 + trifolium-shaped subunits where the axle sodium(I) ion is connected with three pairs of zinc(II) ions by three μ3-OH ions and the two sodium(I) ions are further linked by a μ2–oxo bridge. Besides, the auxiliary BTDA ligand serves as a multi-dentate bridging mode linking adjacent tetradecanuclear hetero-metal clusters into a 3D coordination polymer where a rhombohedral array with a new (418 · 8108 · 1227) · (4)9 topology is observed.