VIII(OH){O2C-C6H4-CO2}•(HO2C-C6H4-CO2H)x(DMF)y(H2O)z (or MIL-68), a new vanadocarboxylate with a large pore hybrid topology:: reticular synthesis with infinite inorganic building blocks?

V-III(OH){O2C-C6H4-CO2}.(HO2C-C6H4-O2H)(x)(DMF)(y)(H2O)(z) or MIL-68 was solvothermally synthesised in a non-aqueous medium. Its structure, built up from octahedral chains connected by terephthalate linkers, exhibits large hexagonal channels containing different occluded moieties. Their irreversible removal releases a specific surface area of 603(22) m(2).g(-1) (BET).