Synthesis and structure of an unusual new layered aluminophosphate containing oxalate groups, [NH₃CH₂CH₂NH₃]_2.5[Al₄H(HPO₄)₄(H₂PO₄)₂(C₂O₄)₄]

The first example of an aluminophosphate containing organic anions covalently bonded to the framework of the structure is reported; [NH3CH2CH2NH3](2.5)[Al4H(HPO4)(4)(H2PO4)(2)(C2O4)(4)] was prepared hydrothermally and adopts a layered structure. The oxalate groups act as bidentate ligands to Al3+ and hold the structure together by strong interlayer P-O-H-oxalate hydrogen bonds. The structure was solved from synchrotron X-ray diffraction data collected on a very small single crystal, space group C2/m, a = 19.683(4) Angstrom, b = 12.360(3) Angstrom, c = 16.734(3) Angstrom, beta = 110.51(3)degrees. (C) 1999 Academic Press.