Long-range magnetic ordering in a metal-organic framework based on octanuclear nickel(ii) clusters.

A novel three-dimensional metal-organic framework [Ni-3(BTC)(2)(bpp) (2)(H2O)].3H(2)O (1) based on mixed ligands H3BTC (1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid) and bpp (1,3-bis(4-pyridyl) propane) was obtained under hydrothermal conditions. Crystal structure analysis reveals that 1 is a framework based on cage-like Ni8(()COO)(12) units. Furthermore, long-range magnetic ordering is observed at low temperature.