A Hydroscopic Self‐Catenated Net Formed by Borromean Layers Interlocked by Ferrocenyl Bridging Ligands

Reaction of a flexible tripodal ligand, 1,3,5‐tris(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzene (tttmb), and an organometallic carboxylate 1,1′‐bis(3‐carboxy‐1‐oxopropyl)ferrocene (H 2 bfcs) with Cd(Ac) 2 · 2H 2 O yields a trinodal, self‐catenated 3D layer pillar complex {[Cd 3 (bfcs) 3 (tttmb) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] · 8H 2 O} n ( 1 ), which is formed by connecting 2D hexagonal Cd II –tttmb Borromean layers through ferrocenyl bridges in both inter‐ and intralayers. The complex can undergo a dehydrated and rehydrated process in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal manner without affecting the overall framework. The amorphous sample of 1 can be regenerated by water to the crystalline material again. In addition, the nitrogen adsorption property of 1 was also investigated.