Isolation and characterization of a polymeric lanthanum citrate

The first lanthanide citrate coordination polymer with the formula [La(Hcit)(H(2)O)](n) (Hcit(3-) = C(OH)(COO(-))(CH(2)COO(-))(2)) was prepared from La(2)O(3) and citric acid at pH = 2.2-2.5 under hydrothermal conditions at 120 degrees C. The compound was characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG-DTA, and X-ray crystallography. It is thermally stable up to 158 degrees C and insoluble in common solvents. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 16.765(3) A, b = 8.822(2) A, c = 14.048(3) A, beta = 120.64(3) degrees , and Z = 8. The structure consists of chains of La(III) cations bridged by O--C--O groups with pendant Hcit anions forming a pillar structure. The Hcit ligand is involved in six La--O bonds to five different La centers in a very compact 3D structure.