Divalent transition metal phosphonates with new structure containing hydrogen-bonded layers of phosphonate anions

A series of divalent transition metal phosphonates containing hydrogen-bonded layers of phosphonate anions, namely M(phen)₃]·C₆H₅PO₃·11H₂O M=Co(1), Ni(2), Cu(3)] and Cd(phen)₃]·C₆H₅PO₃H·Cl·7H₂O (4) have been synthesized, structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. These compounds all crystallize in the triclinic system, space group P-1. The lattice parameters are a=12.1646(5), b=12.4155(6), c=15.4117(10) Å, α=78.216(2), β=79.735(3), γ=77.8380(3)°, V=2205.1(2) Å³, Z=2 for 1; a=12.097(2), b=12.606(3), c=15.742(3) Å, α=76.66(3), β=80.04(3), γ=77.75(3)°, V=2263.4(8) Å³, Z=2 for 2; a=12.058(2), b=12.518(3), c=15.781(3) Å, α=77.77(3), β=80.02(3), γ=77.91(3)°, V=2255.5(8) Å³, Z=2 for 3 and a=12.47680(10), b=12.6693(2), c=16.1504(3) Å, α=82.600(1), β=71.122(1), γ=77.355(1)°, V=2352.37(6) Å³, Z=2 for 4. All structures are refined by full-matrix least-squares methods for 1, R1=0.0602 using 6458 independent reflections with I>2σ(I); for 2, R1=0.0632 using 4657 independent reflections with I>2σ(I); for 3, R1=0.0634 using 6221 independent reflections with I>2σ(I); for 4, R1=0.0400 using 7930 independent reflections with I>2σ(I)]. In the crystal structures, the phenylphosphonate anions and water molecules are hydrogen-bonded to form layers, and there exist the cationic species M(phen)₃]²⁺ between the adjacent layers of anions and water. Luminescence, thermal analysis as well as IR spectroscopic studies are also presented.