Multiferroic homochiral metal-organic framework

The hydrothermal reaction of (L)-ethyl lactate (Lig-Et) with Tb(CIO4)(3)center dot 6H(2)O gives colorless block (Lig)(2)Tb(H2O)(2)(CIO4) (1), in which 1 displays a laminar 2D framework. Ferroelectric and magnetic property measurements reveal that 1 probably is the first example of two ferroic metal-organic frameworks. Ferro-electricity of its analogue, (Lig)(2)Tb(D2O)(2)(CIO4) (2), further confirms the presence of the ferroelectric deuterium effect.