Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of a new inorganic-organic hybrid layered zinc phosphate-phosphite (C₆H₁₅N₂)₂Zn₄(PO ₄)₂(HPO₃)₂

Using H₃PO₃ or H₃PO₂ as a phosphorus source, the first inorganic-organic hybrid layered zinc phosphate-phosphite (C₆H₁₅N₂)₂Zn₄(PO ₄)₂(HPO₃)₂ (denoted ZnPO-CJ12) has been hydrothermally synthesized in the presence of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) as a structure-directing agent. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that its structure is made up of inorganic-organic hybrid sheets containing both PO₄^3- and HPO₃^-2 anions. Only the trans-isomers are involved in the structure even though a mix of trans-and cis-isomers of DACH molecules are added in the reaction mixture. The hydrophobic ends of the DACH molecules exclusively protrude into the interlayer region.