Synthesis and characterization of a new open-framework fluorinated gallium phosphite with three-dimensional intersecting channels

(C₄N₂H₁₂)Ga₂F₃(HPO₃)₂(H₂PO₃)] 1 is a new open-framework fluorinated gallium phosphite obtained by mild hydrothermal synthesis using piperazine as template agent and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), powder XRD, infra-red spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma, thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. The three-dimensional (3D) anionic framework of compound 1 is constructed from two distinct motifs, a 1D tancoite chain and a single 4-ring (S4R) unit, which contains four intersecting channels running throughout the structure as 8, 12-member rings channels along to the a-axis and 12-member ring channels along the b- and c-axis, respectively. The well-ordered, diprotonated piperazine cations occupy all the channels, and interact with the fluorinated gallium-phosphite framework by strong hydrogen bonds.