Colored supramolecular charge-transfer host system using 10,10′-dihydroxy-9,9′-biphenanthryl and 2,5-disubstituted-1,4-benzoquinone

A colored charge-transfer (CT) host complex is formed using racemic (rac)-10,10′-dihydroxy-9,9′-biphenanthryl, which has a large and widely π-conjugated phenanthrene ring, as the electron donor and 2,5-disubstituted-1,4-benzoquinone as the electron acceptor. This CT host complex can include aromatic molecules as guests and its color and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) change according to the type of guest molecules included. Characteristically, it is possible to tune the color and DRS of the inclusion CT complex by changing the type of the component 2,5-disubstituted-1,4-benzoquinone.     

An isoselective and visual inclusion host system using charge-transfer complexes of 3,3′-disubstituted-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol and methylviologen

A charge-transfer (CT) complex, composed of rac-3,3′-dibromo-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol as the electron donor and 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride as the electron acceptor, is formed only by the inclusion of specific guest molecules. The color of this inclusion CT complex is sensitive to the component guest molecules.     

Complexation behaviour of a CT complex composed of 9,10-bis(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)anthracene and viologen derivatives

A chiral charge-transfer (CT) complex was formed using achiral 9,10-bis(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)anthracene (BDHA) as an electron donor and achiral 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (MVCl₂) as an electron acceptor. This chiral CT complex can include n-alkyl alcohol molecules as guests. On the other hand, when 1,1′-diphenyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride and 1,1′-dibenzyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride were used as electron acceptors, achiral CT complexes without guests were formed. It was found that the chiral crystallisation of the BDHA/MVCl₂–CT host system was caused by steric and electric intermolecular interactions between host component molecules BDHA and MVCl₂ during crystallisation.     

Mononuclear copper(II) complex with terpyridine and an extended phenanthroline base, [Cu(tpy)(dppz)]: Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA binding and cytotoxicity activity

The new dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppz) copper(II) complex, [Cu(tpy)(dppz)]²⁺, where tpy is 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine, has been prepared and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Its DNA binding and in vitro cytotoxicity have been also studied. The molecular structure shows a distorted trigonal bipyramidal CuN₅ coordination geometry around the copper atom. The bidentate dppz ligand binds in the equatorial plane, while tpy exhibits axial-equatorial bonding. The interaction of the complex with DNA has been investigated by electronic absorption, competitive fluorescence titration, linear dichroism, voltammetric techniques and a gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay. It is proposed that the binding mode of the complex to DNA is of an intercalation nature with the planar dppz ligands located between the base pairs of double-stranded DNA.An in vitro cytotoxicity study of the complex on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cell line by an MTT assay indicates that the title complex may have the potency to act as an effective anticancer drug, with an IC₅₀ value of 4.57 μM (3.62-5.77).     

A 3D porous zinc MOF constructed from a flexible tripodal ligand: Synthesis, structure, and photoluminescence property

A new metal-organic framework, [Zn₅(trencba)₂(OH)₂Cl₂·4H₂O] (1) [H₃trencba=N,N,N′,N′,N′′,N′′-tris[(4-carboxylate-2-yl)methyl]-tris(2-aminoethyl)amine], constructed from a flexible tripodal ligand based on C₃ symmetric tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, has been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG, XRD and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 contains an unprecedented linear penta-nuclear zinc cluster fragment. Each ligand links four penta-nuclear fragments, and every fragment links eight ligands to generate a three-dimensional non-interpenetrated porous framework. The uncoordinated water molecules were observed trapped in the void pores. Compound 1 represents the first example of (6,8)-connected 3D bi-nodal framework based on a single kind of organic ligand. The photoluminescence measurements showed that complex 1 exhibits relatively stronger blue emissions at room temperature than that of the ligand.     

Efficient preparation of 9-Z-11-methylretinal and 11-Z-11-methylretinal

[2-(β-Ionylidene)propyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide is reacted with 3-methyl-4-oxobut-2-enenitrile in refluxing 1,2-epoxybutane to give a mixture of 11-Z- and all-E-11-methylretinal via DIBAL-H reduction. In an analogous fashion, β-ionyl triphenylphosphonium bromide is reacted with 3,5-dimethyl-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienenitrile in 1,2-epoxybutane followed by subsequent DIBAL-H reduction to afford a mixture of new products consisting of 9-Z-11-methylretinal, its all-E isomer and 1-(2′,6′,6′-trimethylcyclohex-2′-en-1′-yl)-6-(buten-2″-al-3″-yl)-3,5-dimethylcyclohexa-1,3-diene. These molecules were obtained in pure form by HPLC.     

Conformational study of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cr(III) complexes of the edta-type: Crystal structure of 1D polymeric trans(O)-Ba[Co(1,3-pddadp)] · 8H2O complex stabilized by infinite water tapes

The trans(O⁶) isomer of the Ba[Co(1,3-pddadp)] · 8H₂O complex (where 1,3-pddadp represents hexadentate 1,3-propanediamine-N,N′-diacetate-N,N′-di-3-propionate ion) has been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. In the crystal structure the complex cations and anions are bridged by carboxylate oxygen atoms from the in-plane coordinated glycinate rings (G-rings) of [Co(1,3-pddadp)]²⁻ and by the barium-coordinated water molecules, thus forming 1D polymeric chains, separated by infinite water tapes hydrogen bonded to the [Co(1,3-pddadp)]²⁻ carboxylate oxygens from the out-of-plane β-alaninate rings (R-rings). Conformational analysis of the three possible geometrical isomers: trans(O⁵), trans(O⁵O⁶), and trans(O⁶) of the [Co(1,3-pddadp)]²⁻ complex, with ligand acting as hexadentate, as well as of the corresponding complexes of Ni(II) and Cr(III) has been performed using the consistent force field (CFF) method, with the parameters developed previously for edta-type complexes of chromium(III) and supplemented with new parameters for cobalt(II) and nickel(II). The energy-minimized structure of the trans(O⁵O⁶) isomer represents the global minimum for the [M(1,3-pddadp)]ⁿ⁻ (M = Co(II), Ni(II), and Cr(III)) species. The occurrence of the least energetically favored trans(O⁶) isomer in a crystal and the exceptional conformation of the axially oriented β-alaninate rings can be accounted for by the stabilizing role of the infinite tapes of planar cyclic water pentamers and hexamers which act as a “glue” to reinforce the coordination polymeric chains.     

AGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as solvent and TMEDA as both ligand and reducing agent

Activator generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in inexpensive, non-toxic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), with air-stable Cu(II)X₂(X = Br, Cl) as the catalyst and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as both ligand and reducing agent was investigated. The polymerizations in PEG proceeded in a well-controlled manner as evidenced by kinetic studies and chain extension results. The polydispersity of the polymer obtained was quite narrow, with a weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight ratio of less than 1.2. Effects of the TMEDA content and the catalysts on polymerization were also investigated, respectively.     

A charge-transfer host system composed of a chiral 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol cluster and benzylviologen

Chiral charge-transfer (CT) complexes composed of a chiral 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol cluster as the electron donor and 1,1′-dibenzyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride as the electron acceptor serve as a host system for molecular recognition. CT complexes that include guest alcohols show different diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) depending on the included guest.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity of halo-methyl-bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediamine cobalt(II) complexes

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of a series of tetra-halo-dimethyl salen and di-halo-tetramethyl-salen ligands are reported in this paper: α,α′-dimethyl-Salen (dMeSalen) (L¹); 3,3′,5,5′-tetrachloro-α,α′-dimethyl-Salen, (tCldMeSalen) (L²); 3,3′-dibromo-5,5′-dichloro-α,α′-dimethyl-Salen, (dCldBrdMeSalen) (L³); 3,3′,5,5′-tetrabromo-α,α′-dimethyl-Salen, (tBrdMeSalen) (L⁴); 3,3′,5,5′-tetraiodo-α,α′-dimethyl-salen, (tIdMeSalen) (L⁵); 3,3′-dichloro-5,5′,α,α′-tetramethyl-Salen (dCltMeSalen) (L⁶); 3,3′-dibromo-5,5′,α,α′-tetramethyl-Salen (dBrtMeSalen) (L⁷); and 3,3′-diiodo-5,5′,α,α′-tetramethyl-Salen (dItMeSalen) (L⁸) (Salen = bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediamine). Upon reaction with Co(II) ions, these ligands form complexes with square planar geometry that have been characterized by elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, UV–Vis, IR and EPR spectroscopies. In the presence of pyridine the obtained Co(II) complexes were found able to bind reversibly O₂, which was shown by EPR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. They were also found able to catalyze the oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (DtBuP) (9) with formation of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DtBuQ) (10) and 2,6,2′,6′-tetra-tert-butyl-1,1′-diphenobenzoquinone (TtBuDQ) (11). These properties are first influenced by the coordination of pyridine in axial position of the Co(II) ion that causes an increase of the electronic density on the cobalt ion and as a consequence a decrease in the E_1/2 value and an increase of the reducing power of the Co(II) complex. It is noteworthy that, under those conditions the complexes also show a remarkable quasi-reversible behaviour. Second, complex properties are also influenced by the substituents (methyl and halogen) grafted on the aromatic ring and on the azomethynic groups. The donating methyl substituent on the azomethynic groups causes a decrease in the E_1/2 value, whereas the halogen substituents on the aromatic rings have two effects: a mesomeric donating effect that tends to lower the redox potential of the complex, and a steric effect that tends to decrease the conjugation of the ligand and then to increase the redox potential of the Co(II) complex. In pyridine, the steric effect predominates, which causes both an increase of the redox potential and a decrease of the selectivity of the oxidation of phenol 9. As a result of all these effects, it then appears that the best catalysts to realize the selective oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-phenol (9) by O₂ are the Co complexes of ligands bearing CH₃ donating substituents, Co(dMeSalen) 1 (2CH₃ substituents), and Co-di-halo-tetra-methyl-salen complexes 6, 7 and 8 (4CH₃ substituents), in the presence of pyridine.     

Synthesis, characterization and DNA-binding and DNA-photocleavage studies of two Ru(II) complexes containing two main ligands and one ancillary ligand

DNA-binding and DNA-photocleavage properties of two Ru(II) complexes, [Ru(L¹)(dppz)₂](PF₆)₄ (1) and [Ru(L²)(dppz)₂](PF₆)₄ (2) (L¹ = 5,5′-di(1-(triethylammonio)methyl)-2,2′-dipyridyl cation; L² = 5,5′-di(1-(tributylammonio)methyl)-2,2′-dipyridyl cation; dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine, have been investigated. Experimental results show that the DNA-binding affinity of complex 1 is greater than that of 2, both complexes emit luminescence in aqueous solution, either alone or in the presence of DNA, complex 1 can bind to DNA in an intercalative mode while 2 most likely interacts with DNA in a partial intercalation fashion, and complex 2 serves as a better candidate for enantioselective binding to CT-DNA compared with 1. Moreover, complex 1 reveals higher efficient DNA cleavage activity than 2, during which supercoiled DNA is converted to nicked DNA with both complexes. Theoretical calculations for the two complexes have been carried out applying the density functional theory (DFT) method at the level of the B3LYP/LanL2DZ basis set. The calculated results can reasonably explain the obtained experimental trends in the DNA-binding affinities and binding constants (K_b) of these complexes.     

Fluorine cleavage of the light blue heteroleptic triplet emitter FIrpic

The lifetime stability of devices containing FIrpic as emitter has been a major concern for organic blue light emitting devices (OLEDs). To gain a deeper knowledge about the purity of FIrpic (bis[2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)pyridyl-N,C2′]iridium (III)) emitters and how the purity is influenced by sublimation steps, non-sublimated and sublimated FIrpic material was analyzed via liquid chromatography coupled with electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS). Cleavage of an electron-withdrawing group from one of the ligands of the heteroleptic phosphorescent emitter could be identified in sublimated FIrpic material via LC/ESI/MS. A detailed chemical analysis using LC/ESI/MS was carried out for complete blue emitting devices of the following structure: indium-tin-oxide (ITO)/50 nm (α-4,4′-bis[(1-naphthyl)phenylamino]-1,1′-biphenyl) (α-NPD)/10 nm 4,4′,4″-tris(carbazol-9-yl)triphenylamine (TCTA)/100 nm TCTA:8% FIrpic/50 nm 1,1′-biphenyl-4′-oxy)-bis(8-hydroxy-2-methylquinolinato)-aluminum (BAlq)/1 nm LiF/100 nm Al. Two isomers of (FIrpic-1F) could be detected in an aged OLED. Changes in the ligand systems of FIrpic, especially the loss of fluorine during the deposition process can alter the emissive properties of the blue phosphorescent emitter. Beside isomer formation and chemical degradation of FIrpic, substantial degradation was observed for the hole transport material α-NPD in driven OLEDs.     

New Re(I) tricarbonyl-diimine complexes with N,N′-bis(substituted benzaldehyde)-1,2-diiminoethane Schiff base ligands: Synthesis,spectroscopic and electrochemical studies and crystal structures

The syntheses, structures and spectroscopic properties of tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes with N,N′-bis(2-bromo, 4-bromo, 4-chloro and 3-methoxybenzaldehyde)-1,2-diiminoethane Schiff base ligands have been investigated in this paper. Characterization of these complexes was carried out with FTIR, NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. The electrochemical behavior of the investigated complexes has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structures of the 4-chloro, 4-bromo and 4-methoxy substituted complexes are stabilized by intermolecular C–H?Cl and C–H?O hydrogen bonds. The remarkable features of the 2-bromo, 4-bromo and 4-chloro substituted complexes are short intermolecular halogen–oxygen contacts. In the 4-bromo complex, short intermolecular Br?O and O?O contacts link neighboring molecules along the [1 0 0] direction, which are further stabilized by short intermolecular π?π interactions. In 2-bromo complex, intermolecular Br?O interactions link neighboring molecules into 1D extended chains along the [0 1 0] and [0 0 1] directions, forming a 2D network which is parallel to the bc-plane.     

(Salen)Ti(IV) complex catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening of epoxides using dithiophosphorus acid as the nucleophile

A series of chiral bis-Schiff bases were synthesized starting from (1R,2R)-(+)-diaminocyclohexane, (+)-cis-1,2,2-trimethyl-1,3-diaminocyclopentane, (R)-2,2^′-diamino-1,1^′-binaphthalene, and (1S,2S)-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine. The enantioselective ring-opening of meso epoxides with dithiophosphorus acids catalyzed by a (salen)Ti(IV) complex formed in situ upon the treatment of Ti(OPr-i)₄ and the aforementioned chiral Schiff base was realized. The resulting products were obtained with low to good enantioselectivities (up to 73% ee). The (salen)Ti(IV) complex containing the backbone of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane exhibited the best enantioselectivity. The substituents in dithiophosphorus acids and those on the salen aromatic ring have a significant influence on the reaction. Moderate enantioselectivity were obtained for the (salen)Ti(IV) complex catalyzed ring-opening of racemic monosubstituted epoxides. High regioselectivity was observed for the alkyl substituted epoxides, whereas poor regioselectivity was obtained for the aryl substituted ones.     

An experimental and DFT computational study of a novel zerovalent tetracarbonyl tungsten complex of 2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoxaline

Synthesis and characterization of the new complex W(CO)₄(2,2′-pq), (1), where 2,2′-pq = 2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoxaline, is presented. The non-symmetric ligand 2,2′-pq belongs to the general class of quinoxalines, which are natural products yielding a rich coordination chemistry. Complex (1) crystallizes in space group P2_1/n with α = 9.601(6) Å, b = 16.735(11) Å, c = 10.315(8) Å, Z = 4 and V = 1616.0(19) Å³. Although its structure resembles those of W(CO)₄(phen) and W(CO)₄(bpy), some distortions that stem from 2,2′-pq’s asymmetry are present. DFT calculations reveal a ground state consisting of HOMO, HOMO − 1 and HOMO − 2, mainly of metal and carbonyl character, while LUMO is diimine oriented. The bonding scheme of (1) is illustrated after its consideration as been consisted by two fragments, namely W(CO)₄ and 2,2′-pq, acting as a donor and acceptor of electron density, respectively. In that scheme, back-bonding interaction of the main core to 2,2′-pq is mainly related to the mixing of HOMO − 2 from W(CO)₄ moiety with LUMO from 2,2′-pq moiety. The performed TDDFT calculations, not only in the gas phase but also combined with the conductor like polarizable continuum model (CPCM), reveal that the lowest in energy highly solvatochromic transition of (1) can be ascribed as a HOMO − 2 → LUMO transition and it is better described as MLCT/LLCT, underlying the CO → diimine contribution. The solvatochromic behaviour of (1) is anticipated by DFT/CPCM calculations and is probed in detail by absorption and NMR spectroscopy. The correlation of the lowest-energy-band maximum to the dipole moment of the corresponding solvents provides overall good linear fits, while the correlation to the dielectric constant affords good linear patterns only after the segregation of the solvents into groups. The ¹H NMR data of 2,2′-pq and (1) reveal an increase of the solvent influence to the chemical shifts of the diimine ligand after its coordination to the metal and suggest two different types of solvent-effects for the complex and the ligand, respectively. The observed proton shifts of (1) are related with the results of the Mülliken population analysis in solvents of different polarity; the transition from CCl₄ to MeOH seems to signify a charge transfer from the axial COs and the central metal to the equatorial COs and the internal nuclei of 2,2′-pq.     

Novel method for determining DDT in vapour and particulate phases within contaminated indoor air in a malaria area of South Africa

The organochlorine insecticide DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane) is still used for malaria vector control in certain areas of South Africa. The strict Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) allows spraying on the inside of traditional dwellings with DDT. In rural villages contaminated dust presents an additional pathway for exposure to DDT. We present a new method for the determination of DDT in indoor air where separate vapour and particulate samples are collected in a single step with a denuder configuration of a multi-channel open tubular silicone rubber (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) trap combined with a micro quartz fibre filter. The multi-channel PDMS trap section of the denuder concentrates vapour phase insecticide whereas particle associated insecticide is transferred downstream where it is collected on a micro-fibre filter followed by a second multi-channel PDMS trap to capture the blow-off from the filter. The multi-channel PDMS trap and filter combination are designed to fit a commercial thermal desorber for direct introduction of samples into a GC–MS. The technique is solvent-free. Analyte extraction and sample clean-up is not required. Two fractions, vapour phase and particulate phase p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT; p,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDD; p,p′-DDE and o,p′-DDE in 4 L contaminated indoor air, were each quantitatively analysed by GC–MS using isotopically labelled ring substituted ¹³C₁₂ – p,p′-DDT as an internal standard. Limits of detection were 0.07–0.35 ng m⁻³ for p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDE and o,p′-DDE. Ratios of airborne p,p′-DDD/p,p′-DDT and of o,p′-DDT/p,p′-DDT are unusual and do not match the ideal certified ingredient composition required of commercial DDT. Results suggest that the DDT products used for indoor residual spraying (IRS) prior to, and during 2007, may have been compromised with regards to insecticidal efficacy, demonstrating the power of this new environmental forensics tool.     

Synthesis and characterization of difunctional blue light-emitting molecules containing hole-transporting triphenylamino units

The synthesis of new difunctional (i.e., light-emitting and hole-transporting) fluorophore molecules, 2,2′-difuryl-4,4′-(N,N,N′,N′-tetraphenyl)diaminobiphenyl and 5,5′-bis(4-N,N′-diphenylaminophenyl)-2,2′-bifuryl, which contain hole-transporting triphenylamino units, are reported. These difunctional molecules emit intense blue photoluminescence and further reveal high HOMO energy values as well as high glass transition temperatures.     

Iridium mediated methyl and phenyl C-H activation of 2-(arylazo)phenols. Synthesis, structure, and spectral and electrochemical properties of some organoiridium complexes

Reaction of 2-(2′,6′-dimethylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol with [Ir(PPh₃)₃Cl] in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a base (NEt₃) affords an organoiridium complex 5, where the 2-(2′,6′-dimethylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol is coordinated to iridium, via C-H activation of a methyl group, as a dianionic tridentate C,N,O-donor. Two triphenylphosphines and a hydride are also coordinated to the metal center. A similar reaction carried out in toluene affords complex 5 along with a similar complex 7, where a chloride is coordinated to iridium instead of the hydride. Reaction of 2-(2′-methylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol with [Ir(PPh₃)₃Cl] in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a base (NEt₃) affords an organoiridium complex 12, where the 2-(2′-methylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol is coordinated to iridium, via C-H activation at the ortho position of the phenyl group in the 2′-methylphenylazo fragment, as a dianionic tridentate C,N,O-donor. Two triphenylphosphines and a hydride are also coordinated to the metal center. A similar reaction carried out in toluene affords a complex 12 along with a similar complex 13, where a chloride is coordinated to iridium instead of the hydride. Structures of complexes 5, 12 and 13 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. In all these complexes, the two triphenylphosphines are trans. All these complexes show intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on all the complexes shows an Ir(III)-Ir(IV) oxidation within 0.60-0.73 V vs. SCE, followed by an oxidation of the coordinated 2-(arylazo)phenolate ligand within 1.08-1.39 V vs. SCE. A reduction of the coordinated 2-(arylazo)phenolate ligand is observed within −1.10 to −1.26 V vs. SCE.     

Aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols in the presence of activated secondary alcohols

Chemoselective aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols in the presence of activated secondary alcohols was effected under irradiation of visible light by using (nitrosyl)Ru(salen) complex 6 that possesses bulky 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl groups at C3, C3′, C5 and C5′, as catalyst. For example, oxidation of n-decanol was >50 times faster than oxidation of 1-phenylethanol at 10 °C.     

Sonochemical syntheses of a straw-like nano-structure two-dimensional mixed-ligand zinc(II) coordination polymer as precursor for preparation of nano-sized ZnO

Straw-like nano-structure of a new mixed-ligand Zn(II) two-dimensional coordination polymer, {[Zn(μ-4,4′-bipy)(μ-3-bpdb)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂·4,4′-bipy·3-bpdb·H₂O}_n (1) {4,4′-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine and 3-bpdb = 1,4-bis(3-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene}, was synthesized by a sonochemical method. The new nano-structure was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Compound 1 was structurally characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and consists of two-dimensional polymeric units. ZnO nanoparticles were obtained by calcination of compound 1 at 500 °C under air atmosphere and were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).