A new three-dimensional (3D) zincophosphite vertical bar Co(en)(3)vertical bar [Zn-4(HPO3)(5)(H2PO3)] (1) has been solvothermally synthesized by using a racemic mixture of a chiral cobaltammine complex Co(en)(3)Cl-3 as the structure-directing agent. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound I crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (no. 14) with a = 18.6180 (4) angstrom, b = 8.7601 (18) angstrom, c = 17.4840 (4) angstrom, beta = 93.42 (3)degrees, V = 2846.4 (10) angstrom(3), Z = 4 with R-1 = 0.0530. Its structure is built up from strict alternation of ZnO4 tetrahedra and HPO3 pseudo-tetrahedra, giving rise to a 3D inorganic framework with 4-, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12 MRs, and the metal complex molecules, both the Delta and Delta enantiomers, sit in 10-MRs channels. In addition, it is Worth noting that left- and right-handed helical chains exist in the framework, which is induced by chiral metal complex Co(en)(3)Cl-3 template molecules. Further characterization Of Compound I has been performed, including X-ray powder diffraction, ICP, CHN, IR and TG inalyses. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.