A metal-organic framework with three cavities based on three-coloured square tiling derived from a cyclobutane constructed in the solid state

The unsymmetrical tetratopic ligand rctt-1,2-bis(3-pyridyl)-3,4-bis(4-pyridyl)cyclobutane self-assembles with zinc(II) nitrate to form a 2D metal-organic framework with three distinct cavities.