(C4N2H12)(NH4)2[(GeO2)3(GeO1.5F3)2]: A new layered germanate containing helical arrays of H-bond

A new layered germanate (C4N2H12)(NH4)2[(GeO2)3(GeO1.5F3)2] (denoted JLG-2) co-templated by diprotonated piperazine cations and ammonium ions has been solvothermally synthesized. JLG-2 was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and elemental (CHN). The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. JLG-2 crystallizes in orthorhombic, space group Pbcn (No. 60), with a = 7.1235(3) Å, b = 11.7131(5) Å, c = 20.9375(10) Å, and Z = 4. The inorganic sheet of JLG-2 was built up from alternation of tetrahedral GeO4 and octahedral GeO3F3. Propeller-like chiral structure building units of Ge5O12F6 with Δ- and Λ-configuration were present in the inorganic sheet with a topology of 3, 9-net. The helical arrays of H-bonds formed between the arrays of diprotonated piperazine cations and the chiral chains that are built from the linkage of the propeller-like chiral SBUs with same configuration via O1, which was rare in pure germanate compounds.