Synthesis and characterization of two novel lanthanide coordination polymers with an open framework based on an unprecedented [Ln7(μ3-OH)8]13+ cluster

Two novel heptanuclear lanthanide clusters of the dicubane-like type [Ln(7)(mu(3)-OH)(8)](13+) (Ln = Ho (1), Yb (2)) were obtained via hydrothermal reaction, and as building blocks, they were formally assembled into porous three-dimensional networks through the linkage of 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylate (1,4-NDA), forming first examples of porous lanthanide polymers with 1,4-NDA, [Ln(7)(mu(3)OH)(8)(1,4-NDA)(6)(OH)(0.5)(Ac)(0.5)(H2O)(7)](.)4H(2)O (Ln = Ho, Yb). The coordinating water molecules and lattice water molecules are enclathrated in the cavities.