New anion-templated 3D heterobimetallic open frameworks based on lanthanide-carboxylate layers and copper pillars

A series of new three-dimensional (3D) lanthanide–transition metal (4f–3d) heterobimetallic open frameworks, [Ln2(1,2-bdc)2(H2O)2 Cu(inic)2](ClO4) (Ln=Eu (1), Tb (2), Nd (3) and Sm (4); 1,2-bdc=1,2-benzenedicarboxylate; Hinic=isonicotinic acid) have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1–4 are isostructural. They possess a new anion-templated 3D heterobimetallic open framework, which is observed for the first time in the {Ln/TM/bdc/inic} (TM=transition metal) system. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit the characteristic fluorescent properties of Eu(III) and Tb(III), respectively.