Interlinked Zn-O-C infinite secondary building units (SBUs) form the basis of the novel metalorganic frameworks (MOFs) [Zn3(OH2)(X)2] · 4 DEF · 2H2O (MOF-69A: X=4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate; MOF-69B: X=2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate; DEF = N,N′-diethylformamide). The nature of the infinite SBUs results in frameworks (structure of MOF-69A depicted) wherein catenation is forbidden