A tetranuclear zinc cluster, (bipy)4Zn4(HPO3)4, that stabilizes a hydrogen bonded chain of water molecules: Transformation of a zinc phosphite 4-ring to a cluster

An infinite chain of hydrogen bonded loops of 8 and 10 water molecules are stabilized by the neutral zinc phosphite cluster [Zn4(HPO3)4(2,2′-bipy)4] · 11H2O. The cluster is prepared either by direct synthesis or by transformation of a (2,2′-bipy)2Zn2(HPO3)2 4-ring.