Synthesis and crystal structure of a new coordination polymer based on lanthanum and 1,4-phenyl-enedi-acetate ligands.

Reaction in gel between the sodium salt of 1,4-phenyl-enedi-acetic acid (Na2 C10 O4 H8 -Na2 p -pda) and lanthanum chloride yields single crystals of the three-dimensional coordination polymer poly[[tetra-aqua-tris-(μ-1,4-phenyl-enedi-acetato)-dilanthanum(III)] octa-hydrate], {[La2 (C10 H8 O4 )3 (H2 O)4 ]·8H2 O}∞ . The LaIII coordination polyhedron can be described as a slightly distorted monocapped square anti-prism. One of the two p -pda2- ligands is bound to four LaIII ions and the other to two LaIII ions. Each LaIII atom is coordinated by five ligands, thereby generating a metal-organic framework with potential porosity properties.