Syntheses and structures of two chiral zincophosphite compounds:: [Zn(C8H8N2)(HPO3)] and (C6H13N2)[Zn3(C6H12N2)(HPO3)3(H2PO3)]

Employing achiral organic amines (2-methylbenzimidazole and 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane) as the structure-directing agent and ligand, two chiral zincophosphites, [Zn(C8H8N2)(HPO3)] 1 and (C6H13N2)[Zn-3(C6H12N2)(HPO3)(3)(H2PO3)] 2, have been hydro(solvo)-thermally synthesized, crystallizing in the chiral space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Single-crystal structural analysis reveals that compound 1 consists of alternating ZnO3N and HPO3 units exhibiting a neutral one-dimensional chiral chain. Interestingly, the organic ligands interact with the inorganic chain via hydrogen-bonds in hydrogen-bonded helix fashion. Compound 2, a three-dimensional chiral open framework with 16-MR channels, is formed by the distorted {Zn3P4} secondary building unit (SBU). The organic amine molecules play dual roles as both ligands and countercations.