A metal-organic framework via the reaction of benzoate with a cationic inorganic material.

Our research group previously reported a two-dimensional cationic inorganic material (BING-5, Pb(3)F(5)NO(3)) where nitrate resides in the interlamellar space and can be anion exchanged. Investigation of the possible exchange of nitrate for benzoate led to the discovery of a layered metal-organic framework, lead benzoate hydrate [Pb(C(6)H(5)CO(2))(2)(OH(2))]. The compound crystallizes as colourless plates in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c.