Molecular, supramolecular structure and catalytic activity of transition metal complexes of phenoxy acetic acid derivatives

Six mononuclear complexes [M(L₁)₂(H₂O)₄] (M = Co(II), 1a and M = Mn(II), 1b), [Cu(L₁)₂(H₂O)₂] (1c), [Cu(L₁)₂(H₂O)(Py)₂] (1d), [Cu(L₃)(H₂O)Cl] · H₂O (3a) and [Co(Sal)(H₂O)(Py)₃] · 2ClO₄ · H₂O (3b) of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and Schiff base were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Co(II) (1a) and Mn(II) (1b) complexes are isomorphous. X-ray crystal structural analyses reveal that these coordination complexes form polymeric structure via formation of different types of hydrogen bonding and π-stacking interactions in solid. Thermal analysis along with the powder X-ray diffraction data of these complexes shows the importance of the coordinated and/or crystal water molecules in stabilizing the MOF structure. Complexes 1a, 1c, 3a show marginal catalytic activity in the oxidation of olefins to epoxides in the presence of i-butyraldehyde and molecular oxygen.     

Three interpenetrated frameworks constructed by long flexible N,N′-bipyridyl and dicarboxylate ligands

Three interpenetrated polymeric networks, {[Co(bpp)(OH-BDC)] · H₂O}_n (1) [Ni(bpp)_1.5(H₂O)(OH-BDC)]_n (2) and {[Cd(bpp)(H₂O)(OH-BDC)] · 2H₂O}_n (3), have been prepared by hydrothermal reactions of 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (bpp), 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (OH-H₂BDC), with Co(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O and Cd(NO₃)₂ · 4H₂O, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that the three compounds all exhibit interpenetrated but entirely different structures. Compound 1 is a fourfold interpenetrated adamantanoid structure with water molecules as space fillers, in which bpp adopts a TG conformation (T = trans, G = gauche). Compound 2 is an interdigitated structure from the interpenetrated long arms of one-dimensional molecular ladders, while bpp in 2 adopts both TT and TG conformations. Compound 3 is a twofold interpenetrated three-dimensional network from a one-dimensional metal-carboxylate chain bridged by TG conformational bpp. The hydrogen bonding interactions in 1–3 further stabilize the whole structural frameworks and play critical roles in their constructions.     

Hydrogenmaleato bridged supramolecular double chains via π–π stacking interactions: syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of ∞[Cu(phen)X(HL)2/2] with X=Cl (1), NO3 (2) and H2L=maleic acid

Two novel hydrogen maleato (HL) bridged Cu(II) complexes _∞¹[Cu(phen)Cl(HL)_2/2] 1 and _∞¹[Cu(phen)(NO₃)(HL)_2/2] 2 were obtained from reactions of 1,10-phenanthroline, maleic acid with CuCl₂·2H₂O and Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O, respectively, in CH₃OH/H₂O (1:1 v/v) at pH=2.0 and the crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Both complexes crystallize isostructurally in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with cell dimensions: 1 a=8.639(2) Å, b=15.614(3) Å, c=11.326(2) Å, β=94.67(3)°, Z=4, D_calc=1.720 g/cm³ and 2 a=8.544(1) Å, b=15.517(2) Å, c=12.160(1) Å, β=90.84(8)°, Z=4, D_calc=1.734 g/cm³. In both complexes, the square pyramidally coordinated Cu atoms are bridged by hydrogen maleato ligands into 1D chains with the coordinating phen ligands parallel on one side. Interdigitation of the chelating phen ligands of two neighbouring chains via π–π stacking interactions forms supramolecular double chains, which are then arranged in the crystal structures according to pseudo 1D close packing patterns. Both complexes exhibit similar paramagnetic behavior obeying Curie–Weiss laws χ_m(T−θ)=0.414 cm³ mol⁻¹ K with the Weiss constants θ=−1.45, −1.0 K for 1 and 2, respectively.     

2D Cu(I) and 3D mixed-valence Cu(I)/Cu(II) coordination polymers: Synthesis and structural characterization of [CuCl(pyz-H)2]·2H2O and [Cu2Cl2(pyz)(H2O)]·H2O (pyz-H = pyrazinic acid)

Two new coordination polymers of copper(I) chloride and pyrazinic acid (pyz-H), namely [CuCl(pyz-H)₂]·2H₂O (1) and [Cu₂Cl₂(pyz)(H₂O)]·H₂O (2) have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic, magnetic and crystallographic methods. The overall physical measurements suggest that 1 is diamagnetic and contains monodentate N-pyrazinic acid, whereas 2 is paramagnetic and contains tridentate N,N′,O- chelating bridging pyrazinato anion. In the structure of 1 as elucidated by X-ray single crystal analysis, the asymmetric units [CuCl(pyz)₂] are linked together forming a zigzag chain with tetrahedral copper(I) environment. The two lattice water molecules form hydrogen bonds with the uncoordinated N atom and carboxylate group O atom of pyz-H molecules. The Cu–N bond lengths are 2.009(6) Å and Cu–Cl distances are 2.337(2) Å. Complex 2 has a three-dimensional structure with the chains [Cu(I)Cu(II)(C₅H₃N₂O₂)Cl₂(H₂O)] interconnected by [Cu(I)Cl₂N] tetrahedral unit and [Cu(II)NO₂Cl₂] polyhedra. The Cu(I)–Cl and Cu(I)–N distances are 2.327(2)–2.581(2) Å and 1.988(6) Å, respectively, whereas the Cu(II)–Cl and Cu(II)–N bond lengths are 2.258(2), 2.581(2) Å, and 2.017(6) Å, respectively. Hydrogen bonds of the type O–HO are formed between lattice and coordinated water, and carboxylate oxygens of pyrazinato ligand giving rise to a three-dimensional network. The Cl⁻ anions act as bridging ligands in both complexes. The magnetic data of complex 2 have been measured from 2 to 300 K and discussed.     

A new three-dimensional supramolecular network, [Cd(Hbic)2(H2O)]·(4,4′-bpy)·H2O (H2bic = 1-H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid; 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine): Synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence property

A photoluminescent supramolecular compound [Cd(Hbic)₂(H₂O)]·(4,4′-bpy)·H₂O, H₂bic = 1-H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. With CH–π stacking and hydrogen bond, the 4,4′-bipyridine is used as template to construct the neighboring layers into a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture. Solid-state emission spectrum of compound 1 shows luminescence with emission peak at 565 nm.     

Influence of electronic and steric effects on stability constants and electrochemical reversibility of divalent ion complexes with glycine and sarcosine. A glass electrode potentiometric, sampled direct current polarographic, virtual potentiometric, and molecular modelling study

Cd^II complexes with glycine (gly) and sarcosine (sar) were studied by glass electrode potentiometry, direct current polarography, virtual potentiometry, and molecular modelling. The electrochemically reversible Cd^II–glycine–OH labile system was best described by a model consisting of M(HL), ML, ML₂, ML₃, ML(OH) and ML₂(OH) (M = Cd^II, L = gly) with the overall stability constants, as log β, determined to be 10.30 ± 0.05, 4.21 ± 0.03, 7.30 ± 0.05, 9.84 ± 0.04, 8.9 ± 0.1, and 10.75 ± 0.10, respectively. In case of the electrochemically quasi-reversible Cd^II–sarcosine–OH labile system, only ML, ML₂ and ML₃ (M = Cd^II, L = sar) were found and their stability constants, as log β, were determined to be 3.80 ± 0.03, 6.91 ± 0.07, and 8.9 ± 0.4, respectively. Stability constants for the ML complexes, the prime focus of this work, were thus established with an uncertainty smaller than 0.05 log units. The observed departure from electrochemical reversibility for the Cd–sarcosine–OH system was attributed mainly to the decrease in the transfer coefficient . The MM2 force field, supplemented by additional parameters, reproduced the reported crystal structures of diaqua-bis(glycinato-O,N)nickel(II) and fac-tri(glycinato)-nickelate(II) very well. These parameters were used to predict structures of all possible isomers of (i) [Ni(H₂O)₄(gly)]⁺ and [Ni(H₂O)₄(sar)]⁺; and (ii) [Ni(H₂O)₃(IDA)] and [Ni(H₂O)₃(MIDA)] (IDA = iminodiacetic acid, MIDA = N-methyl iminodiacetic acid) by molecular mechanics/simulated annealing methods. The change in strain energy, ΔU_str, that accompanies the substitution of one ligand by another (ML + L′ → ML′ + L), was computed and a strain energy ΔU_str = +0.28 kcal mol⁻¹ for the reaction [Ni(H₂O)₄(gly)]⁺ + sar → [Ni(H₂O)₄(sar)]⁺ + gly was found. This predicts the monoglycine complex to be marginally more stable. By contrast, for the reaction [Ni(H₂O)₃IDA] + MIDA → [Ni(H₂O)₃MIDA] + IDA, ΔU_str = −0.64 kcal mol⁻¹, and the monoMIDA complex is predicted to be more stable. This correlates well with (i) stability constants for Cd–gly and Cd–sar reported here; and (ii) known stability constants of ML complex for glycine, sarcosine, IDA, and MIDA.     

Thermal decomposition study on mixed ligand thymine complexes of divalent nickel(II) with dianions of some dicarboxylic acids

Thermal decomposition of mixed ligand thymine (2,4-dihydroxy-5-methylpyrimidine) complexes of divalent Ni(II) with aspartate, glutamate and ADA (N-2-acetamido)iminodiacetate dianions was monitored by TG, DTG and DTA analysis in static atmosphere of air. The decomposition course and steps of complexes [Ni(C₅H₆N₂O₂)(C₄H₅NO₄)²⁻(H₂O)₂]·H₂O, [Ni(C₅H₆N₂O₂)(C₅H₇NO₄)²⁻(H₂O)₂]·H₂O and [Ni(C₅H₆N₂O₂)(C₆H₈N₂O₅)²⁻(H₂O)₂]·1.5H₂O were analyzed. The final decomposition products are found to be the corresponding metal oxides. The kinetic parameters namely, activation energy (E*), enthalpy (ΔH*), entropy (ΔS*) and free energy change of decomposition (ΔG*) are calculated from the TG curves using Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations. The stability order found for these complexes follows the trend aspartate > ADA > glutamate.     

Ion size dominated 1D and 2D Salen lanthanide coordination complexes and their luminescence

Lewis acid/base addition between Ln(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb and Lu) and H₂salen [H₂salen = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneimine)] gives rise to an array of coordination polymeric structures. Crystal structural analysis reveals that Salen effectively functions as a bridging ligand in these compounds. The size of the lanthanide ions controls the structures of these Salen lanthanide complexes. Two representative structures with one dimensional and two dimensional topologies, viz. [Pr(H₂salen)(NO₃)₃(CH₃OH)₂]_n (1) and [Ln(H₂salen)_1.5(NO₃)₃]_n [Ln = Pr (2), Nd (3), Sm (4), Eu (5), Tb (6) and Lu (7)] are reported. Luminescent spectra of complexes 4 and 5 exhibit characteristic metal-centered emission lines. However, the characteristic luminescence of the terbium(III) ion is not observed either in solution or in the solid state of complex 6.     

Synthesis and structures of three 1-aminoethylidenediphosphonate compounds with transition-metal ions

Three new aminodiphosphonates, namely M(phen)(AEDPH₃)₂·4H₂O (M = Zn, (1); Ni, (2)) and Cu(phen)(AEDPH₃)₂·H₂O (4), in addition to the previously reported Co(phen)(AEDPH₃)₂·4H₂O (3), Cu(2,2′-bipy)(H₂O)(HEDPH₂)·2H₂O (5), and Cu(phen)(H₂O)(HEDPH₂)·2H₂O (6) (AEDPH₄ = 1-aminoethylidenediphosphonic acid, HEDPH₄ = 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipy = 2,2′-bipyridyl), have been synthesized and characterized. These compounds are all synthesized at the similar condition (80 °C), whereas they illustrate different frameworks. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 are isomorphous, which contain two same chelate and one six-coordinated metal ion, and display a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure through hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions. Compound 4 contains a chelate and a monodentate , while the Cu ion is five-coordinated. The coordination model of Cu²⁺ in 4 is similar to that of 5 and 6. Comparing with four aminoethylidenediphosphonates, the difference of their structures is directed to the coordination model of the metal ions, while the three copper(II) diphosphonates illustrate different structures based on the deprotonized degree of the corresponding diphosphonic acids.     

Crystalline polysilicate magadiite with intercalated n-alkylmonoamine and some correlations involving thermochemical data

Synthesized hydrated lamellar acidic crystalline magadiite (H₂Si₁₄O₂₉·2H₂O) nanocompound was used as host for intercalation of polar n-alkylmonoamine molecules of the general formula H₃C(CH₂)_nNH₂ (n = 1–6) in aqueous solution. The original interlayer distance (d) of 1500 pm, determined by X-ray powder diffraction patterns, increases after intercalation. The values correlated with the number of aliphatic amine carbon (n_c) atoms: d = [(1312 ± 11) + (21 ± 2)]n_c. The amount of intercalated amines (N_s), decreased as n_c increased: N_s = [(5.82 ± 0.04) − (0.45 ± 0.01)]n_c. The acidic layered nanocompound was calorimetrically titrated with the amines and the thermodynamic data gave exothermic values for all guest molecules, as shown by the correlation: Δ_intH = −[(24.45 ± 0.49) − (1.91 ± 0.10)]n_c and d = [(1576 ± 16) − (10.8 ± 1.0)]Δ_intH. The negative values of the Gibbs energies and the positive entropies also presented the correlations: Δ_intG = −[(22.8 ± 0.2) − (0.2 ± 0.1)]n_c and Δ_intS = [(6 ± 1) + (5 ± 1)]n_c, respectively.     

Self-assembly in dinuclear, cyclic homotetranuclear and cyclic heterotetranuclear complexes with a picolylhydrazone ligand

Reactions among Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, Cu(acac)₂/VO(acac)₂ and 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde Picoloylhydrazone in different solvents give three complexes, [Cu₂L(acac)(H₂O)₂]ClO₄ (1), [Cu₄L₂(acac)₂(py)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) and (VO₂)₂L₂Cu₂(acac)₂ (3) (acac = acetyl acetonate and py = pyridine). There is an extended 2D structure in complex 1 constructed by hydrogen bonds between the binuclear complex cation and the ClO₄⁻ anion, and an extended 1D structure in complex 2 constructed by weak ππ stacking interactions between neighboring cyclic tetranuclear complex molecules. Complex 3 is the first oxovanadium–copper complex with a bridging oxo oxygen atom between the V atom and the Cu atom. The solid-state photoluminescent properties of the three title complexes have been studied. There is an antiferromagnetic interaction in 1.     

Crystal structure and luminescence property of ternary terbium p-aminobenzoic acid complexes with different second ligands

Ternary terbium complexes with p-aminobenzoic acid (HL), [TbL₃(DMSO)(H₂O)]₂ (1), [TbL₃(DMF)(H₂O)]₂ (2) and [TbL₃(Bpy)(H₂O)]₂·2H₂O (3) (DMSO=dimethyl sulfoxide, DMF=N, N- dimethylformamide, Bpy=2, 2′- bipyridyl) have been synthesized, and their crystal structures determined. The luminescence properties of these complexes, including both the emission quantum yield and the fluorescence lifetime, have been investigated. The effect of a second ligand on the crystal structure and luminescence property of the ternary terbium p-aminobenzoic acid complexes, and the relationship between luminescence properties and crystal structure, including coordination mode of the L⁻ ligand and the characteristics of a second ligand, are discussed.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of [Zn(H2O)4]2 [H2As6V15O42(H2O)]·2H2O

The compound [Zn(H₂O)₄]₂[H₂As₆V₁₅O₄₂(H₂O)]·2H₂O (1) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ESR, magnetic measurement, third-order nonlinear property study and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound 1 crystallizes in trigonal space group R3, a=b=12.0601(17) Å, c=33.970(7) Å, γ=120°, V=4278.8(12) Å³, Z=3 and R1(wR2)=0.0512 (0.1171). The crystal structure is constructed from [H₂As₆V₁₅O₄₂(H₂O)]⁴⁻ anions and [Zn(H₂O)₄]²⁺ cations linked through hydrogen bonds into a network. The [H₂As₆V₁₅O₄₂(H₂O)]⁶⁻ cluster consists of 15 VO₅ square pyramids linked by three As₂O₅ handle-like units.     

Theoretical study on the intramolecular proton transfer reactions of 3-methyl-5-hydroxyisoxazole and its water complexes

The optimized structures and proton transfer reactions of 3-methyl-5-hydroxyisoxazole and its water complexes (3-M-5-HIO · (H₂O)_n · (n = 0–3)) were computed at B3LYP and MP2 theoretical level. The results indicates that 3-M-5-HIO has four isomers (Ecis, Etrans, K1 and K2), and the keto tautomer, and K2 is the most stable isomer in the gas phase. Hydrogen bonding between 3-M-5-HIO and the water molecules can dramatically lower the barrier by the concerted transfer mechanism. Ecis · (H₂O)₃ → K1 · (H₂O)₃ and Ecis · (H₂O)₂ → K2 · (H₂O)₂ is found to be very efficient. Comparing with the proton transfer mechanism of 5-HIO shows that the methyl substitution prevents the intramolecular proton transfer.     

Cyano-bridged bimetallic complexes of copper(II) with tetracyanonickelate(II). Crystal structure of [Cu(dpt)Ni(CN)4]

Five new complexes of composition [Cu(dpt)Ni(CN)₄] (1) (dpt=dipropylenetriamine), [Cu(dien)Ni(CN)₄]·2H₂O (2) (dien=diethylenetriamine), [Cu(N,N′-dimeen)Ni(CN)₄]·H₂O (3) (N,N′-dimeen=N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine), [Cu(N,N-dimeen)Ni(CN)₄]·H₂O (4) (N,N-dimeen=N,N-dimethylethylenediamine) and [Cu(trimeen)Ni(CN)₄] (5) (trimeen=N,N,N′-trimethylethylenediamine) have been obtained by the reactions of the mixture of Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O, appropriate amine and K₂[Ni(CN)₄] in water and have been characterized by IR and UV–Vis spectroscopies and magnetic measurements. The crystal structure of [Cu(dpt)Ni(CN)₄] (1) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The structure of 1 consists of a one-dimensional polymeric chain ---Cu(dpt)---NC---Ni(CN)₂---CN---Cu(dpt)--- in which the Cu(II) and Ni(II) atoms are linked by CN groups. The nickel atom is four coordinate with four cyanide-carbon atoms (two cyano groups are terminal and two cyano groups (in cis fashion) are bridged) in a square-planar arrangement and the copper atom is five coordinate with two cyanide-nitrogen and three dpt-nitrogen atoms, in a distorted square-pyramidal arrangement. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility (2–300 K) was measured for compound 1. The magnetic investigation showed the presence of a very weak antiferromagnetic interaction (J=−0.16 cm⁻¹) between the copper atoms within each chain through the diamagnetic Ni(CN)₄ ²⁻ ions.     

Homochiral cobalt(II) and strontium(II) amino-carboxylate–phosphonate hybrids

Two homochiral metal amino-carboxylate–phosphonate hybrids, namely, [Co₂Cl(S-HL)(H₂O)₅]Cl · H₂O 1 and Sr₂(S-HL)(NO₃)₂(H₂O) · H₂O 2 (S-H₃L = S-HO₂CC₄H₇NCH₂PO₃H₂) have been synthesized by the reaction of the enantiopure S-H₃L ligand with cobalt(II) chloride or strontium nitrate under acidic condition at room temperature. The structure of compound 1 features a novel 3D framework with helical chains and channels. Compound 2 has a layered structure in which the 1D chains of edge-sharing SrO₈ and SrO₉ polyhedra are interconnected by phosphonate ligands.     

Neutral pyridylmethylamide ligands and their mononuclear copper(II) complexes

Mononuclear copper(II) complexes of a family of pyridylmethylamide ligands HL, HL^Me, HL^Ph, HL^Me3 and HL^Ph3, [HL = N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HL^Me = N-(2-pyridylmethyl)propionamide; HL^Ph = 2-phenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide; HL^Me3 = 2,2-dimethyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)propionamide; HL^Ph3 = 2,2,2-triphenyl-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide], were synthesized and characterized. The reaction of copper(II) salts with the pyridylmethylamide ligands yields complexes [Cu(HL)₂(OTf)₂] (1), [Cu(HL^Me)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2), [Cu(HL)₂Cl]₂[CuCl₄] (3), [Cu(HL^Me3)₂(THF)](OTf)₂ (4), [Cu(HL^Me3)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (5a and 5b), [Cu(HL^Ph3)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (6), [Cu(HL)(2,2′-bipy)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (7), and [Cu(HL^Ph)(2,2′-bipy)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (8). All complexes were fully characterized, and the X-ray structures vary from four-coordinate square-planar, to five-coordinate square-pyramidal or trigonal-bipyramidal. The neutral ligands coordinate via the pyridyl N atom and carbonyl O atom in a bidentate fashion. The spectroscopic properties are typical of mononuclear copper(II) species with similar ligand sets, and are consistent their X-ray structures.     

Copper(II) complexes with the N,N,O-tridentate ligand 6-amino-5-formyl-1,3-dimethyluracilato-(N6)-benzoylhydrazone: synthesis, spectral and XRD studies

From reactions between different Cu(II) salts and the Schiff base 6-amino-5-formyl-1,3-dimethyluracil-benzoylhydrazone (H₂BEZDO) in alcohol, six new copper complexes with simplified formulas [Cu(HBEZDO)(H₂O)(MeOH)]NO₃ (1), [CuCl(HBEZDO)(DMF)] (2), [CuBr(HBEZDO)]·2H₂O (3), CuBr(HBEZDO) (4), Cu(ClO₄)(HBEZDO)·H₂O (5), and Cu(SO₄)_1/2(HBEZDO)·1 H₂O (6) were isolated. The structures of compounds 1, 2 and 3 have been established by means of XRD diffraction methods. In the three compounds, the Schiff base acts as a tridentate monodeprotonated ligand through the N(6), N(51) and O(52) atoms, making two five- and six-membered chelate rings. In the structure of 1 and 2, the solvent molecules are coordinated giving square-based pyramidal environments, with the basal plane completed by a MeOH (1) or Cl (2) and the apical positions occupied by the oxygen atom of a water (1) or a DMF molecule (2). The molecular unit of the complex [CuBr(HBEZDO)]·2H₂O (3) is defined by a square-plane containing the three donor atoms of the organic ligand and a bromide ligand (Cu–Br 2.384 Å), but there is a stronger tetragonally elongated pyramidal geometry around the metal, the apical position of the polyhedron being occupied by a weakly bound-to-copper bromine atom (3.086 Å) of a neighbouring molecule. This fact gives the appearance of an apparent dimer with very asymmetric bromine bridges, in which there are no exchange interactions between metal centres. Also, infrared, magnetic and EPR data of the isolated complexes are reported.     

Synthesis, reaction and structure of a series of chromium(III) complexes containing oxalate ligand

A series of chromium(III) complexes [Cr(bipy)(HC₂O₄)₂]Cl·3H₂O (1), [Cr(phen)(HC₂O₄)₂]Cl·3H₂O (2), [Cr(phen)₂(C₂O₄)]ClO₄ (3), [Cr₂(bipy)₄(C₂O₄)](SO₄)·(bipy)_0.5·H₂O (4) and [Mn(phen)₂(H₂O)₂]₂[Cr(phen)(C₂O₄)₂]₃ClO₄·14H₂O (5) were synthesized (bipy=4,4′-bipyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline), while the crystal structures of 1 and 3–5 have been determined by X-ray analysis. 1 and 3 are mononuclear complexes, 4 contains binuclear chromium(III) ions and 5 is a 3D supromolecule formed by complicated hydrogen bonding. 1–3 are potential molecular bricks of chromium(III) building blocks for synthesis heterometallic complexes. When we use these molecular bricks as ligands to react with other metal salts, unexpected complexes 4 and 5 are isolated in water solution. The synthesis conditions and reaction results are also discussed.     

Chains, ladders and sheets of d metal–organic polymers generated from the flexible bipyridyl ligands

By use of the three-layer diffusion method, reactions of flexible bipyridyl ligands (4,4′-bpp or 3,3′-bpp) with M(II) salts (M = Zn, Cd) and multi-carboxylate ligands resulted in the formation of four interesting d¹⁰ metal–organic coordination polymers: [Zn(μ-4,4′-bpp)Br₂]_n (1), [Zn(μ-4,4′-bpp)(1,2-bdc)]_n · nH₂O (2), [Zn(μ-3,3′-bpp)(1,3-bdc)]_n · nCH₃OH · 2nH₂O (3) and [Cd(μ-3,3′-bpp)(C₄H₂O₄)]_n · 3nH₂O (4) (4,4′-bpp = 2,2′-bis(4-pyridylmethyleneoxy)-1,1′-biphenylene; 3,3′-bpp = 2,2 ′-bis(3-pyridylmethyleneoxy)-1,1′-biphenylene; bdc=benzenedicarboxylate, C₄H₄O₄ = fumaric acid). Complex 1 has a 2D sheet structure consisting of two unusual zigzag Zn(II) chains which are nearly perpendicular to each other. Complex 2 is comprised of two-leg ladders, in which [Zn(4,4′-bpp)] chains serve as the side rails and 1,2-bdc ligands serve as the cross rungs. In complex 3, every two 1,3-bdc ligands connect the neighbouring Zn(II)-3,3′-bpp dimetallic rings in η¹ coordination modes into an interesting chain structure. Complex 4 consists of an anionic macrocycle-containing cadmium dicarboxylate sheets that are separated by 3,3′-bpp. These d¹⁰ metal complexes exhibit high thermal stabilities and strong luminescence efficiencies.