A three-component hydrogen bonded framework.

A porous three-component hydrogen bonded framework, 1⋅biphen⋅TP, was prepared from a tetra-amidinium component (1 4+ ) and two different dianions, benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate (terephthalate, TP 2- ) and biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate (biphen 2- ). Interestingly, when the framework was prepared in ethanol/water, 1⋅biphen⋅TP forms even when an excess of either dicarboxylate is present. However, when only water is used as solvent, only two-component frameworks are formed.