Copper Complex Cation Templated Gadolinium(III)–Isophthalate Frameworks

Ions in cages: Hydrothermal reactions give two novel 3D heterometallic frameworks, [{[Gd4(ip)7(H2O)2][Cu(bpy)2]2}n] (1, bpy=2,2′-bipyridine, H2ip=isophthalic acid; see structure, space filling models: [Cu(bpy)2], polyhedra: Gd) and [{Gd3Cu(ip)5(Hip)(bpy)}n]⋅n H2O (2). The structure of 1 consists of charged cages containing two encapsulated CuI complex cations, whereas that of 2 contains charged cavities in which CuII complex cations are bound.