Tris(acetylacetonato-kappa O-2,O')(1,10-phenanthroline-kappa N-2,N')erbium(III)

The title compound, [Er(C5H7O2)(3)(C12H8N2)], is a mixed-ligand metal-organic precursor for chemical vapour deposition, with the Er atom being eight-coordinate. The coordination polyhedron, described as a distorted square antiprism, is formed by three bidentate (chelating) acetylacetonate residues and a phenanthroline ligand in the apical positions. Molecular assembly via C-H (...) O hydrogen bonds generates a sheet structure in the ac plane. Weak co-operative C - H .... pi interactions form molecular dimers and contribute to the stability of the intersheet packing. The supramolecular assembly contains voids which form hydrophobic porous channels, surrounded by a cluster of dimers.