Solvothermal synthesis of new open-framework metal phosphites with structure-directing agents generated in situ

Abstract By using amide molecules and a urea derivative as the source of structure-directing agents (SDAs), three open-framework metal phosphites, (CH 3 NH 3 ) 2 ·[Be 3 (HPO 3 ) 4 ] ( 1 ), (CH 3 CH 2 NH 3 ) 2 ·[Be 3 (HPO 3 ) 4 ] ( 2 ), and [(CH 3 ) 2 NH 2 ] 1.5 ·(H 3 O) 0.5 ·[Al 4 (HPO 3 ) 7 (H 2 O) 3 ]·(H 2 O) 0.5 ( 3 ), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Compound 1 has left- and right-handed helical channels running along the [001] directions. Compound 2 possesses zigzag 12-ring channels running along the [001] direction. Compound 3 contains multidirectional 12-ring channels running along the [100], [010], and [110] directions. It is noteworthy that the direct use of methylamine, ethylamine and dimethylamine as SDAs can't produce corresponding single crystals of compounds 1 – 3 , demonstrating the slow release of amines from amide molecules and urea derivative is a key process for the crystal growth.