A novel gallium arsenate organically templated by propane-1,3-diyldiammonium with a ULM-3-type open framework:: [Ga3(AsO4)3(OH)F](C3H12N2)•H2O

Crystals of the title oxyfluorinated gallium arsenate, viz. tris(arsenato)fluorohydroxotrigallium propane-1,3-diyldiammonium monohydrate, were synthesized hydrothermally at 453 K under autogenous pressure, using 1,3-diaminopropane as the structure-directing agent. The solid crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its structure was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure is similar to that of gallium or aluminium phosphates with the ULM-3 structural type and is built up from a three-dimensional anionic framework composed of corner-linked hexameric Ga-3(AsO4)(3)(OH)F units. The Ga atoms have an octahedral [GaO4(OH)F] or trigonal-bipyramidal [GaO4(OH) and GaO4F] coordination. These units are connected to one another and to the tetrahedral AsO4 groups via OH or F bridges. The three-dimensional framework contains ten-ring channels along [010], crosslinked by eight-ring channels along [110] and [110]. The diprotonated organic species and water molecules reside within the ten-ring channels. The cation is linked to the framework via an N-H...F hydrogen bond. A strong N-H...O hydrogen bond links the cation and the water molecule.