Interpenetrating Nets: Ordered, Periodic Entanglement

Independent one-, two-, and even three-dimensional nets interpenetrate each other in many solid-state structures of polymeric, hydrogen-bonded nets and coordination polymers. For example, the interpenetration of the adamantane units of two diamondlike nets is shown on the right. A detailed and systematic examination of many interpenetrating nets of this kind is made, and implications for crystal engineering are discussed.