Poly[(μ4-phenyl­phospho­nato)zinc(II)]

The title two-dimensional coordination polymer, [Zn(C6H5PO3)]n, was synthesized serendipitously by reacting a tetra­phospho­nate cavitand Tiiii[C3H7, CH3, C6H5] and Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O in a DMF/H2O mixture. The basic conditions of the reaction cleaved the phospho­nate bridges at the upper rim of the cavitand, making them available for reaction with the zinc ions. The coordination polymer can be described as an inorganic layer in which zinc coordinates the oxygen atoms of the phospho­nate groups in a distorted tetra­hedral environment, while the phenyl groups, which are statistically disordered over two orientations, point up and down with respect to the layer. The layers inter­act through van der Waals inter­actions. The crystal studied was refined as a two-component twin.