New Tricks for an Old Dog: The Carbonate Ion as a Building Block for Networks Including Examples of Composition [Cu6(CO3)12{C(NH2)3}8]4 with the Sodalite Topology

Abstract

Cupric ions and carbonate ions, under the templating influence of pairs of hydrogen-bonding guanidinium ions, associate to form an infinite network with the topology of the 4²6⁴ sodalite net. This cage structure (see picture; for clarity, only copper centers and carbonate ions are shown) offers great scope for crystal engineering.