Incorporating distinct metal clusters to construct diversity of 3D pillared-layer lanthanide-transition-metal frameworks.

Three novel 3D pillared-layer heterometallic lanthanide-transition-metal (hetero-Ln-TM) compounds, namely, Ln2Cu7I6(ina)7(H2O)6.H2O [ina=isonicotinic acid; Ln=Ce (1), Sm (2)] and Er4(OH)4Cu5I4(ina)6(na)(2,5-pdc).0.3H2O (3; na=nicotinic acid, 2,5-pdc=2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid), have been obtained by incorporating different metal clusters as building blocks under hydrothermal conditions. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural and consist of two distinct building units of dimeric [Ln2(ina)6] cores and inorganic 2D [Cu8I7]nn+ layers based on the [Cu3I3] and [Cu4I3]+ clusters. Compound 3 is constructed from decanuclear [Cu10I8]2+ clusters and inorganic 1D [Er4(OH)4]n8n+ cluster chain-based layers, which represent the first example of a 3D hetero-Ln-TM constructed by the combination of two distinct types of metal cluster units of a 1D [Er4(OH)4]n8n+ cluster polymer and a transition-metal cluster. It is interesting that decarboxylation occurred in the ortho position and 2,5-pdc2- was partially transformed into na- under hydrothermal conditions. Compounds 1-3 represent good examples of using different metal cluster units to construct fascinating 3D hetero-Ln-TM frameworks.