A three-dimensional tin(II) phosphonatobenzenesulfonate with Sn4O12 clusters.

The hydrothermal reaction of SnCl(2)·2H(2)O with 4-phosphonobenzenesulfonic acid (H(3)L) and sodium hydroxide has yielded the title compound, poly[μ-hydroxido-μ(7)-(4-phosphonatobenzenesulfonato)-ditin(II)], [Sn(2)(C(6)H(4)O(6)PS)(OH)](n). The inorganic building unit is an Sn(4)O(12) cluster which is composed of edge-sharing SnO(4) and SnO(5) polyhedra. The clusters are interconnected via P and S atoms from the organic acid to form layers in the ab plane. These layers are linked to each other through pillaring benzene groups parallel to the c axis to form a three-dimensional structure.