Fluorenyl Zinc Phosphonate Zn(H2O)PO3–C13H9·H2O: Hybrid Columnar Structure with Strong C–H···π Interactions

Abstract

A new zinc phosphonate Zn(H2O)PO3–C13H9·H2O with a columnar structure was synthesized in hydrothermal conditions. This compound crystallizes in space group P21/c [a = 15.832(4) Å, b = 5.1915(10) Å, c = 17.519(4) Å and β = 114.479(6)°]. Its inorganic framework consists of isolated chains of corner-sharing ZnO3(H2O) and PO3C tetrahedra. These chains are linked to fluorene cycles, forming hybrid columns, interconnected through C–H···π bonds. The photoluminescence properties of this hybrid material show that its emission bands are red shifted with respect to those of the mother phosphonic acid. This effect is explained on the basis of the structural constraints imposed by the inorganic Zn-phosphonate chains.