Modulation of the intercalation properties of copper-zinc mixed-metal phosphonate materials

New layered mixed divalent metal vinylphosphonates Cu(II) (1-x)Zn(II) (x)(O(3)PC(2)H(3)).H(2)O have been prepared from a range of pre-formed copper-zinc oxides Cu(II) (1-x)Zn(II) (x)O obtained by isomorphous substitution of zinc into the tenorite-type structure of Cu(II)O. The corresponding mixed divalent copper-zinc vinylphosphonates have been characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. All compounds have been shown to consist of a single-phase solid solution that crystallises in an monoclinic unit cell, space group P2(1)/c with a=9.86-9.90, b=7.61-7.64, c=7.32-7.35 A and beta=95.9-96 degrees, with the exception of the pure zinc vinylphosphonate (x=1), the structure of which is comparable to other Zn(II)(O(3)PR).H(2)O materials. Studies of the intercalation of n-butylamine into the range of copper-zinc vinylphosphonates have demonstrated that significant modulation of the adsorption properties occurs; whereas one mole of amine is intercalated into the pure zinc vinylphosphonate to give Zn(II)(O(3)PC(2)H(3)).(C(4)H(9)NH(2)), for all other members of the series two moles of amine are coordinated to give intercalated compounds of composition Cu(II) (1-x)Zn(II) (x)(O(3)PC(2)H(3)).[(C(4)H(9)NH(2))(1-x)(C(4)H(9)NH(2))(x)](2) from which the amine can be sequentially removed from the different metal sites; this opens up possibilities for further applications of these materials.