Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal decomposition of Zr6O4(OH)4(CH3CH2COO)12

► We grown and characterized a new single crystal zirconium oxo-hydroxypropionate complex. ► The X-ray diffraction pattern on the single crystal has revealed that the precursor formula is [Zr6O4(OH)4(CH3CH2COO)12]2. ► We proposed a reaction mechanism of the zirconium precursor.