Amino acid templating of inorganic networks:: Synthesis and structure of L-asparagine zinc phosphite, C4N2O3H8•ZnHPO3

Many organically templated zincophosphates (ZnPOs) have now been reported.(1) In these and related materials,(2) the organic entity is regarded as the key factor in promoting the formation of new types of low-density networks. Most templates are cationic, protonated, polyfunctional amine cations, and multipoint N-H-... O-f (f = framework) hydrogen bonds play a key role in stabilizing the resulting ZnO4/PO4 inorganic network.(3) We have recently extended these studies to organically templated zincophosphites (ZnHPOs) containing the (hydrogen) phosphite [HPO3](2-) moiety.(4-8) Depending on the template used, some ZnHPOs are surprisingly similar to corresponding ZnPOs,(6) whereas others adopt novel structures.(7) In this Communication, we report the synthesis, crystal structure, and some properties Of L-asparagine zinc phosphite, C4N2O3H8.ZnHPO3. This new material is the first ZnHPO or ZnPO phase to be templated by a chiral amino acid, and as a result, it contains homochiral polyhedral chains.