Rings, chains and cages in metal phosphate chemistry: The interdependence and possible interconversion between various structural forms

Our endeavour to build soluble model compounds of basic building blocks in zeolite structures have resulted in a plethora of main group and transition metal phosphate complexes. Many of these complexes show highly intriguing and novel structural features. Careful examination of the core structures allowed us to rationalize the interdependence between the different structural types and visualize their plausible pathway of formation. Due to the high reactivity and short life span of the intermediates it has not been possible to characterize many intermediates. However, the common structural features present in the isolated products drive us to arrive at a plausible mechanism. Further investigation and isolation of other structural types will definitely provide more credential to these hypotheses and help us to solve the zeolite jigsaw.