Hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of [Cu(en)2]2Cu7Cl11: a three-dimensional open-framework copper halide with occluded [Cu(en)2]2+ cations

A new type of three-dimensional open-framework copper chloride, prepared simply by the hydrothermal treatment of CuCl 2 ·H 2 O and en, is built up from unusual chloride bridged Cu 4 tetramers connected by CuCl 3/3 units and has voids in the framework that are filled with charge-compensating [Cu(en) 2 ] 2+ cations.