A metal-organic framework containing cationic inorganic layers:: Pb2F2[C2H4(SO3)2]

We have discovered a metal-organic framework containing cationic inorganic layers. The metal fluoride-organodisulfonate structure, Pb2F2[C2H4(SO3)(2)], was synthesized hydrothermally. The lead fluoride cationic layers are covalently connected by 1,2-ethanedisulfonate chains oriented perpendicular to the layers. The material is thermally stable to ca. 325 degrees C, above which the material collapses to phase-pure alpha-PbF2. This material is a rare example of the use of organosulfonates as organic linker and the first metal-organic framework to contain lead fluoride connectivity. The existence of extended cationic inorganic moieties embedded within a metal-organic framework material further diversifies the possible structure types of this rapidly growing class of materials.