A (3,6)-connected metal-organic framework consisting of chair-like {Fe6} clusters and BTC linkers

A 2-D framework composed of a chair-like {Fe₆} cluster and BTC linkers, Fe₆(BTC)₂(HCOO)₆(DMF)₆] (1, BTC?=?1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate), has been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The {Fe₆} cluster contains six iron ions and six formate ligands, with each formate coordinating with three iron ions to construct the hexa-nuclear iron wheel. The {Fe₆} wheels are further connected via BTC ligands resulting in the first example of a 2-D framework based on {Fe₆} clusters and BTC linkers. A magnetic study indicates that intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions exist in the hexa-nuclear iron cluster.