Cubic and rhombohedral heterobimetallic networks constructed from uranium, transition metals, and phosphonoacetate: new methods for constructing porous materials.

Four heterobimetallic U(vi)/M(ii) (M = Mn, Co, Cd) carboxyphosphonates have been synthesized. M(2)[(UO(2))(6)(PO(3)CH(2)CO(2))(3)O(3)(OH)(H(2)O)(2)]·16H(2)O (M = Mn(ii), Co(ii), and Cd(ii)) adopt cubic three-dimensional network structures with large cavities approximately 16 Å in diameter that are filled with co-crystallized water molecules. [Cd(3)(UO(2))(6)(PO(3)CH(2)CO(2))(6)(H(2)O)(13)]·6H(2)O forms a rhombohedral channel structure with hydrated Cd(ii) within the channels. The cubic compound (Co) displays differential gas absorption with a surface area for CO(2) uptake of 40 m(2) g(-1) at 273 K, and no uptake of N(2) at 77 K.