A new water layer trapped in a ladder-like coordination polymer

A novel two-dimensional water layer which is trapped in a one-dimensional neodymium-organic arrays, [Nd2(BC)2(OX)(H2O)6]n · 10nH2O (BC2− = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate anion and image), is reported. There are puckered 6-, 12- and 16-membered rings existing in the water layer. The cyclic 6- and 12-membered rings in turn fuse together to generate the water tape, namely T6(3)12(3)6(2). The water layer is formed via the assembly of the T6(3)12(3)6(2) water tapes.