•A novel Zn-MOF with unique structure was synthesized and characterized.•The structure of the MOF consists of pinwheel trinuclear clusters and 3D pillar-layeres.•The synthesized MOF was used as a precursor for preparation of ZnO. A novel metal-organic frameworks (MOF), namely ({Zn3(2,6-NDC)3(dabco)·6DMF·3H2O} (TMU-13) was synthesized by the reaction of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (2,6-NDC) as the O-donor ligand, 1,4-diazabicyclo 2.2.2 octane (dabco) as the N-donor ligand and Zn(II) nitrate hexahydrate. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that TMU-13 exhibited a 3D pillar-layered structure based on pinwheel trinuclear zinc-carboxylate clusters as secondary building unit (SBU) with bcu topology and pore window of 12.7 Å × 5.6 Å. Calcination of the compounds TMU-13 at 500 °C under air atmosphere yield ZnO compound.