Lanthanide germanate cluster organic frameworks constructed from {Ln ₈Ge₁₂} or {Ln₁₁Ge₁₂} cage cluster building blocks

(Chemical Equation Presented) Through the use of bis(carboxyethylgermanium) sesquioxide as the germanium source, lanthanide has been successfully introduced into germanate systems under hydrothermal conditions, resulting in a novel lanthanide germanate cluster organic framework with twofold- interpenetrating nets built from Nd₈Ge₁₂ cluster units. To avoid the interpenetration, a second ligand, 2-picolinic acid, was introduced into the above system, resulting in the formation of a series of noninterpenetrating networks constructed from Ln₁₁Ge₁₂ cluster units, as expected.