A 3D Metal–Organic Framework with Rare 3-Fold Interpenetrating Dia-g Nets Based on Silver(I) and Novel Tetradentate Imidazolate Ligand: Synthesis, Structure, and Possible Ferroelectric Property

A novel 3D metal–organic framework [Ag₈(L)₄](NO₃)₈·4H₂O (1) has been solvothermally synthesized by self-assembly of a new tetradentate imidazolate ligand L (L = bis(3,5-bis((1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)-2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)methane) and silver(I) salt. X-ray crystallography reveals that 1 contains rare 3-fold interpenetrating dia-g (or 4.14²) nets. Each single dia-g net comprises linked Ag–L meso-helices. The possible ferroelectric behavior and luminescence property of the title compound have also been studied.