Cooperative assembly of coexistent lanthanide–carboxylate chain and layer in a (4,6)-connected network

A novel 3D praseodymium metal–organic framework, [Pr2L4(H2O)2]2n·nH2O, in which the 2D layers constructed by the interweaving right- and left-handed helical lanthanide–carboxylate chains are further pillared by 1D lanthanide–carboxylate chains, has been hydrothermally synthesized employing flexible 3-(4-(carboxymethoxy) phenyl) propanoic acid (H2L) as organic ligand. Its structure presents a new (4,6)-connected topology with a Schläfli symbol of {43.63}{44.62}2{47.64.84}{48.66.8}. This complex exhibits intense characteristic emission bands of Pr3 + ions in the solid state at room temperature.