Formation of a 2D supramolecular water framework via metal–organic unit templating

The reaction of 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride and NiCl2·6H2O in a mixed solvent of pyridine and water afforded green crystals of [Ni2L(Py)4(H2O)6]·Py·10H2O (L = 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylate; Py = pyridine; 1), which consists of centrosymmetric related nickel(II) binuclear units, pyridine and lattice water molecules. The lattice water molecules hydrogen bond into a water tape network comprising of tetrameric water clusters and pentameric water clusters as subunits. The water tapes are further linked by hexameric water clusters to form a water sheet, which is further staked into a 3D supramolecular network comprising metal–organic residues as guests within the columned channels.