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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Metal-organic Frameworks
Published on: September 5, 2014
An Inorganic Double Helix: Hydrothermal Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetism of Chiral
Abstract:
Very complicated inorganic solids can be self-assembled from structurally simple precursors as illustrated by the hydrothermal synthesis of the vanadium phosphate, [(CH(3))(2)NH(2)]K(4)[V(10)O(10)(H(2)O)(2)(OH)(4)(PO(4))(7)].4H(2)O, 1, which contains chiral double helices formed from interpenetrating spirals of vanadium oxo pentamers bonded together by P(5+). These double helices are in turn intertwined with each other in a manner that generates unusual tunnels and cavities that are filled with (CH(3))(2)NH(2)(+) and K(+) cations, respectively. The unit cell contents of dark blue phosphate 1, which crystallizes in the enantiomorphic space group P4(3) with lattice constants a = 12.130 and c = 30.555 angstroms, are chiral; only one enantiomorph is present in a given crystal. Magnetization measurements show that 1 is paramagnetic with ten unpaired electrons per formula unit at higher temperatures and that antiferromagnetic interactions develop at lower temperatures.
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