Syntheses,Structures, and Electrochemical Properties of Two Bis‐triazole‐bis‐amide‐based Copper(II) Pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate Coordination Polymers

Abstract. Two bis‐triazole‐bis‐amide‐based copper(II) pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate coordination polymers (CPs), [Cu(2,3‐pydc)(dtb)_0.5(DMF)] · 2H₂O ( 1 ) and [Cu(2,3‐pydc)(dth)_0.5(DMF)] · 2H₂O ( 2 ) (2,3‐H₂pydc = pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid, dtb = N,N′‐bis(4H‐1,2,4‐triazole)butanamide, and dth = N,N′‐bis(4H‐1,2,4‐triazole)hexanamide), were synthesized under solvothermal conditions. CPs 1 and 2 show similar two‐dimensional (2D) structures. In 1 , the 2,3‐pydc anions bridge the Cu^II ions into a one‐dimensional (1D) chain. Such 1D chains are linked by the dtb ligands to form a 2D layer. The adjacent 2D layers are extended into a three‐dimensional (3D) supramolecular architecture by hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The electrochemical properties of 1 and 2 were investigated.     

Effect of Bulkiness on Reversible Substitution Reaction at MnII Center with Concomitant Movement of the Lattice DMF: Observation through Single‐Crystal to Single‐Crystal Fashion

The porous coordination polymer ({[Mn(L)H₂O](H₂O)_1.5(dmf)}_n, 1 ) (DMF=N,N‐dimethylformamide) exhibits variety of substitution reactions along with movement of lattice DMF molecule depending upon bulkiness of the external guest molecules. If pyridine or 4‐picoline is used as a guest, both lattice and coordinated solvent molecules are simultaneously substituted (complexes 6 and 7 , respectively). If a bulky guest like aniline is used, a partial substitution at the metal centers and full substitution at the channels takes place (complex 8 ). If the guest is 2‐picoline (by varying the position of bulky methyl group with respect to donor N atom), one Mn^II center is substituted by 2‐picoline, whereas the remaining center is substituted by a DMF molecule that migrates from the channel to the metal center (complex 9 ). Here, the lattice solvent molecules are substituted by 2‐picoline molecules. For the case of other bulky guests like benzonitrile or 2,6‐lutidine, both the metal centers are substituted by two DMF molecules, again migrating from the channel, and the lattice solvent molecules are substituted by these guest molecules (complex 10 and 11 , respectively). A preferential substitution of pyridine over benzonitrile (complex 12 ) at the metal centers is observed only when the molar ratio of PhCN:Py is 95:5 or less. For the case of an aliphatic dimethylaminoacetonitrile guest, the metal centers remain unsubstituted (complex 13 ); rather substitutions of the lattice solvents by the guest molecules take place. All these phenomena are observed through single crystal to single crystal (SC–SC) phenomena.     

A two‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed by benzotriazole‐5‐carboxylate and 1,4,8,9‐tetraazatriphenylene

Poly[[(μ₃‐benzotriazole‐5‐carboxylato‐κ⁴N¹:N³:O,O′)(1,4,8,9‐tetraazatriphenylene‐κ²N⁸,N⁹)zinc(II)] 0.25‐hydrate], {[Zn(C₇H₃N₃O₂)(C₁₄H₈N₄)]·0.25H₂O}_n, exhibits a two‐dimensional layer structure in which the asymmetric unit contains one Zn^II centre, one 1,4,8,9‐tetraazatriphenylene (TATP) ligand, one benzotriazole‐5‐carboxylate (btca) ligand and 0.25 solvent water molecules. Each Zn^II ion is six‐coordinated and surrounded by four N atoms from two different btca ligands and one chelating TATP ligand, and by two O atoms from a third btca ligand, to furnish a distorted octahedral geometry. The infinite connection of the metal ions and ligands forms a two‐dimensional wave‐like (6,3) layer structure. Adjacent layers are connected by C—H...N hydrogen bonds. The solvent water molecules are located in partially occupied sites between parallel pairs of inversion‐related TATP ligands that belong to two separate layers.     

Bis(5‐aminotetrazole‐1‐acetato‐κO)tetraaquacobalt(II) and catena‐poly[[cadmium(II)]‐bis(μ‐5‐aminotetrazole‐1‐acetato‐κ3N4:O,O′)]

The Co^II atom in bis(5‐aminotetrazole‐1‐acetato)tetraaquacobalt(II), [Co(C₃H₄N₅O₂)₂(H₂O)₄], (I), is octahedrally coordinated by six O atoms from two 5‐aminotetrazole‐1‐acetate (atza) ligands and four water molecules. The molecule has a crystallographic centre of symmetry located at the Co^II atom. The molecules of (I) are interlinked by hydrogen‐bond interactions, forming a two‐dimensional supramolecular network structure in the ac plane. The Cd^II atom in catena‐poly[[cadmium(II)]‐bis(μ‐5‐aminotetrazole‐1‐acetato], [Cd(C₃H₄N₅O₂)₂]_n, (II), lies on a twofold axis and is coordinated by two N atoms and four O atoms from four atza ligands to form a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The Cd^II centres are connected through tridentate atza bridging ligands to form a two‐dimensional layered structure extending along the ab plane, which is further linked into a three‐dimensional structure through hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

Four‐ and five‐coordinate copper(II) complexes with N‐(4,4‐diphenyl‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)glycine

The two title mononuclear compounds are four‐coordinate bis[N‐(5‐oxo‐4,4‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)glycinato]copper(II) dimethylformamide disolvate, [Cu(C₁₇H₁₄N₃O₃)₂]·2C₃H₇NO, (I), and five‐coordinate aquabis[N‐(5‐oxo‐4,4‐diphenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)glycinato]copper(II) dimethylformamide disolvate, [Cu(C₁₇H₁₄N₃O₃)₂(H₂O)]·2C₃H₇NO, (II). In (I), the Cu^II ion lies on an inversion centre with one‐half of the complex molecule in the asymmetric unit, while in (II) there are two independent ligand molecules in the asymmetric unit, with the Cu^II ion and coordinated water molecule located on a general position. In both crystal structures, the complex molecules assemble in ribbons via N—H...O hydrogen‐bond networks.     

A square‐pyramidal copper(II) complex with strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds: diaqua(N,N′‐dimethylformamide‐κO)bis[2‐(diphenylphosphoryl)benzoato‐κO]copper(II)

In the title Cu^II complex, [Cu(C₁₉H₁₄O₃P)₂(C₃H₇NO)(H₂O)₂], the molecule is bisected by a twofold axis relating the two 2‐(diphenylphosphoryl)benzoate (ODPPB) ligands. The asymmetric unit consists of a Cu^II metal centre on the symmetry axis, an ODPPB ligand, one water ligand and one dimethylformamide (DMF) ligand (disordered around the twofold axis). The Cu^II ion has fivefold coordination provided by two carboxylate O atoms from two ODPPB ligands, two O atoms from two coordinated water molecules and another O atom from a (disordered) DMF molecule, giving a CuO₅ square‐pyramidal coordination geometry. The ODPPB ligand adopts a terminal monocoordinated mode with two free O atoms forming two strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds with the coordinated water molecules, which may play a key role in the stability of the molecular structure, as shown by the higher release temperature for the coordinated water molecules than for the coordinated DMF molecule. The optical absorption properties of powder samples of the title compound have also been studied.     

CdII and CoII coordination polymers constructed from benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid and 2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazole ligands

In poly[aqua(μ₃‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁵O¹,O^1′:O¹:O⁴,O^4′)[2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl‐κN)‐1H‐benzimidazole]cadmium(II)], [Cd(C₈H₄O₄)(C₁₂H₉N₃)(H₂O)]_n, (I), each Cd^II ion is seven‐coordinated by the pyridine N atom from a 2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzimidazole (3‐PyBIm) ligand, five O atoms from three benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (1,4‐bdc) ligands and one O atom from a coordinated water molecule. The complex forms an extended two‐dimensional carboxylate layer structure, which is further extended into a three‐dimensional network by hydrogen‐bonding interactions. In catena‐poly[[diaquabis[2‐(pyridin‐3‐yl‐κN)‐1H‐benzimidazole]cobalt(II)]‐μ₂‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato‐κ²O¹:O⁴], [Co(C₈H₄O₄)(C₁₂H₉N₃)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, (II), each Co^II ion is six‐coordinated by two pyridine N atoms from two 3‐PyBIm ligands, two O atoms from two 1,4‐bdc ligands and two O atoms from two coordinated water molecules. The complex forms a one‐dimensional chain‐like coordination polymer and is further assembled by hydrogen‐bonding interactions to form a three‐dimensional network.     

Two mononuclear octahedral complexes with benzimidazole‐2‐carboxylate: supramolecular networks constructed by hydrogen bonds

The title compounds, trans‐bis(1H‐benzimidazole‐2‐carboxylato‐κ²N³,O)bis(ethanol‐κO)cadmium(II), [Cd(C₈H₅N₂O₂)₂(C₂H₆O)₂], (I), and trans‐bis(1H‐benzimidazole‐κN³)bis(1H‐benzimidazole‐2‐carboxylato‐κ²N³,O)nickel(II), [Ni(C₈H₅N₂O₂)₂(C₇H₆N₂)₂], (II), are hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular complexes. In (I), the Cd^II ion is six‐coordinated by two O atoms from two ethanol molecules, and by two O and two N atoms from two bidentate benzimidazole‐2‐carboxylate (HBIC) ligands, giving a distorted octahedral geometry. The combination of O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds results in two‐dimensional layers parallel to the ab plane. In (II), the six‐coordinated Ni^II atom, which lies on an inversion centre, shows a similar distorted octahedral geometry to the Cd^II ion in (I); two benzimidazole molecules occupy the axial sites and the equatorial plane contains two chelating HBIC ligands. Pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds between pairs of HBIC anions connect adjacent Ni^II coordination units to form a one‐dimensional chain parallel to the a axis. Moreover, these one‐dimensional chains are further linked via N—H...O hydrogen bonds between HBIC anions and benzimidazole molecules to generate a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework. The two compounds show quite different supramolecular networks, which may be explained by the fact that different co‐ligands occupy the axial sites in the coordination units.     

The structure of {[Co(pht)(bpy)(H2O)]·3H2O}n (pht is phthalate and bpy is 4,4′‐bipyridine) and the role of solvent water clusters in structure stability

The Co^II cation in poly[[aqua(μ‐benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylato‐κ³O¹,O²:O¹)(μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ²N:N′)cobalt(II)] trihydrate], {[Co(C₈H₄O₄)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)]·3H₂O}_n, is octahedrally coordinated by two N atoms of two 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands, three O atoms from phthalate anions and a fourth O atom from a coordinated water molecule. The packing consists of planes of coordination polymers linked by hydrogen bonds mediated by three solvent water molecules; the linkage is achieved by the water molecules forming intricate oligomeric clusters which also involve the O atoms of the phthalate ligands.     

Bis{tris[(1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium‐2‐yl)methyl]amine} tetraaquaocta‐μ2‐chlorido‐octachloridopentacadmate(II) monohydrate

The title compound, (C₂₄H₂₄N₇)₂[Cd₅Cl₁₆(H₂O)₄]·H₂O, contains a [Cd₅Cl₁₆(H₂O)₄]⁶⁻ anion, two triply protonated tris[(1H‐benzimidazol‐3‐ium‐2‐yl)methyl]amine cations and one solvent water molecule. The structure of the anion is a novel chloride‐bridged pentanuclear cluster. The five unique Cd^II centres have quite different coordination environments. Two of the central hexacoordinated Cd^II cations have a CdOCl₅ chromophore, in which each Cd^II cation is ligated by four bridging chloride ligands, one terminal chloride ligand and one water molecule, adopting a distorted octahedral environment. The third central Cd^II cation is octahedrally coordinated by four bridging chloride ligands and two water molecules. Finally, the two terminal Cd^II cations are pentacoordinated by two bridging and three terminal chloride ligands and adopt a trigonal–bipyramidal geometry. A three‐dimensional supramolecular network is formed through intra‐ and intermolecular O—H...O, O—H...Cl, N—H...Cl and N—H...O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions between the cations and anions.<!?tpb=20.6pt>     

Tetraaqua(4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐κ2N,N′)nickel(II) sulfate monohydrate: a simple molecule with an extremely complex hydrogen‐bonding scheme

The title ionic compound, [Ni(C₁₂H₁₂N₂)(H₂O)₄]SO₄·H₂O, is composed of an Ni^II cation coordinated by a chelating 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine ligand via its two N atoms [mean Ni—N = 2.056 (2) Å] and by four aqua ligands [mean Ni—O = 2.073 (9) Å], the net charge being balanced by an external sulfate anion. The whole structure is stabilized by a solvent water molecule. Even though the individual constituents are rather featureless, they generate an extremely complex supramolecular structure consisting of a central hydrogen‐bonded two‐dimensional hydrophilic nucleus made up of complex cations, sulfate anions and coordinated and solvent water molecules, with pendant hydrophobic 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine ligands which interact laterally with their neighbours viaπ–π interactions. The structure is compared with closely related analogues in the literature.     

Poly[[tetraaqua(μ7‐pyridine‐2,3,5,6‐tetracarboxylato)dicadmium(II)] monohydrate]

The title compound, {[Cd₂(C₉HNO₈)(H₂O)₄]·H₂O}_n, consists of two crystallographically independent Cd^II cations, one tetrabasic pyridine‐2,3,5,6‐tetracarboxylate (pdtc) anion, four coordinated water molecules and one solvent water molecule. The Cd^II cations have distorted square‐antiprismatic (one pyridine N, six carboxylate O and one water O atom) and octahedral (three carboxylate O and three water O atoms) coordination environments. Each pdtc ligand employs its pyridine and carboxylate groups to chelate and bridge seven Cd^II cations. The square‐antiprismatic coordinated Cd^II cations are linked by pdtc ligands into a lamellar framework structure, while the octahedral coordinated Cd^II cations are bridged by the μ₂‐carboxylate O atoms and the pdtc ligands into a chain network that further joins neighbouring lamellae into a three‐dimensional porous network. The cavities are filled with solvent water molecules that are linked to the host through complex hydrogen bonding.     

Two ZnII mononuclear coordination compounds with pyridinedicarboxylate and auxiliary N‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylidene)hydroxylamine ligands

Two new mononuclear coordination compounds, bis{4‐[(hydroxyimino)methyl]pyridinium} diaquabis(pyridine‐2,5‐dicarboxylato‐κ²N,O²)zincate(II), (C₆H₇N₂O)₂[Zn(C₇H₃NO₄)₂(H₂O)₂], (1), and (pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato‐κ³O²,N,O⁶)bis[N‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylidene‐κN)hydroxylamine]zinc(II), [Zn(C₇H₃NO₄)(C₆H₆N₂O)₂], (2), have been synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry. The centrosymmetric Zn^II cation in (1) is octahedrally coordinated by two chelating pyridine‐2,5‐dicarboxylate ligands and by two water molecules in a distorted octahedral geometry. In (2), the Zn^II cation is coordinated by a tridentate pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylate dianion and by two N‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylidene)hydroxylamine molecules in a distorted C₂‐symmetric trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry.     

Poly[(N,N‐dimethylformamide‐κO)(μ3‐4,4′‐ethylenedibenzoato‐κ5O,O′:O′:O′′,O′′′)(pyrazino[2,3‐f][1,10]phenanthroline‐κ2N8,N9)lead(II)]

In the title Pb^II coordination polymer, [Pb(C₁₆H₁₀O₄)(C₁₄H₈N₄)(C₃H₇NO)]_n, each Pb^II atom is eight‐coordinated by two chelating N atoms from one pyrazino[2,3‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (L) ligand, one dimethylformamide (DMF) O atom and five carboxylate O atoms from three different 4,4′‐ethylenedibenzoate (eedb) ligands. The eedb dianions bridge neighbouring Pb^II centres through four typical Pb—O bonds and one longer Pb—O interaction to form a two‐dimensional structure. The C atoms from the L and eedb ligands form C—H...O hydrogen bonds with the O atoms of eedb and DMF ligands, which further stabilize the structure. The title compound is the first Pb^II coordination polymer incorporating the L ligand.     

Diaquabis(quinoxaline‐2‐carboxylato‐κ2N1,O)copper(II)

In the title compound, [Cu(C₉H₅N₂O₂)₂(H₂O)₂], the Cu^II ion lies on an inversion centre and has an elongated centrosymmetric octahedral environment, equatorially trans‐coordinated by two N,O‐bidentate quinoxaline‐2‐carboxylate ligands and axially coordinated by two water O atoms. Symmetry‐related molecules are linked by strong O—H...O hydrogen bonds, involving the uncoordinated carboxyl O atom of the carboxylate group and the coordinated water molecules, to form a two‐dimensional network. Weak intermolecular C—H...N interactions also stabilize the crystal structure.     

Two Heterometallic–Organic Frameworks Composed of Iron(III)‐Salen‐Based Ligands and d10 Metals: Gas Sorption and Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Degradation of 2‐Chlorophenol

Two examples of heterometallic–organic frameworks (HMOFs) composed of dicarboxyl‐functionalized Fe^III‐salen complexes and d¹⁰ metals (Zn, Cd), [Zn₂(Fe‐L)₂(μ₂‐O)(H₂O)₂] ? 4 DMF ? 4 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Cd₂(Fe‐L)₂(μ₂‐O)(H₂O)₂] ? 2 DMF ? H₂O ( 2 ) (H₄L=1,2‐cyclohexanediamino‐N,N′‐bis(3‐methyl‐5‐carboxysalicylidene), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In 1 and 2 , each square‐pyramidal Fe^III atom is embedded in the [N₂O₂] pocket of an L^4? anion, and these units are further bridged by a μ₂‐O anion to give an (Fe‐L)₂(μ₂‐O) dimer. The two carboxylate groups of each L^4? anion bridge Zn^II or Cd^II atoms to afford a 3D porous HMOF. The gas sorption and magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been studied. Remarkably, 1 and 2 show activity for the photocatalytic degradation of 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP) under visible‐light irradiation, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first time that this has been observed for Fe^III‐salen‐based HMOFs.     

A new one‐dimensional nickel metal–organic framework: catena‐poly[[[diaquabis(4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoato‐κO)nickel(II)]‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′] monohydrate]

The title complex, {[Ni(C₁₅H₁₁N₄O₂S)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n, was synthesized by the reaction of nickel chloride, 4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoic acid (HL) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (bpy) under hydrothermal conditions. The asymmetric unit contains two half Ni^II ions, each located on an inversion centre, two L⁻ ligands, one bpy ligand, two coordinated water molecules and one unligated water molecule. Each Ni^II centre is six‐coordinated by two monodentate carboxylate O atoms from two different L⁻ ligands, two pyridine N atoms from two different bpy ligands and two terminal water molecules, displaying a nearly ideal octahedral geometry. The Ni^II ions are bridged by 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands to afford a linear array, with an Ni...Ni separation of 11.361 (1) Å, which is further decorated by two monodentate L⁻ ligands trans to each other, resulting in a one‐dimensional fishbone‐like chain structure. These one‐dimensional fishbone‐like chains are further linked by O—H...O, O—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions to form a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture. The thermal stability of the title complex was investigated via thermogravimetric analysis.     

Effect of Organic Dicarboxylates with Different Rigidity on the Construction of Cobalt(II) Complexes with a Semi‐rigid Tripyridyl‐bis‐amide Ligand

Three coordination compounds with dimensions from 0D to 2D, namely, [Co(bppdca)₂(HL1)₂] ( 1 ) [Co(bppdca)(L2)(H₂O)] · 2H₂O ( 2 ) and [Co(bppdca)(L3)] · 3H₂O ( 3 ) [bppdca = N,N′‐bis(pyridine‐3‐yl)pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxamide, H₂L1 = 2,5‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid, H₂L2 = 4,4′‐oxybisbenzoic acid, H₂L3 = 2‐carboxymethylsulfanyl nicotinic acid] were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that complex 1 is a discrete 0D complex, in which the bppdca ligand and the H₂L1 act as the terminal groups to coordinate with the Co^II ions. In coordination polymer 2 , two bppdca ligands coordinate in anti configuration with two Co^II ions to generate a 28‐membered Co₂(bppdca)₂ loop, which is further extended into 1D ladder‐like double chain by pairs of L2 ligands. In 3 , the Co^II ions are linked by bppdca ligands to generate 1D wave‐like chain, which is further connected by the L3 to form a 2D network. Finally, the coordination compounds 1 – 3 are extended into 3D supramolecular frameworks through the hydrogen bonding interactions. The Co^II ions and the bppdca ligands in the title coordination compounds exhibit different coordination characters and conformations. The effect of organic dicarboxylates with different rigidity and length on the structures of Co^II coordination compounds was investigated. In addition, the fluorescence and electrochemical behaviors of coordination compounds 1 – 3 were reported.     

A one‐dimensional coordination polymer of 5‐[(imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylic acid with CuII cations

5‐[(Imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂L) was synthesized and the dimethylformamide‐ and dimethylacetamide‐solvated structures of its adducts with Cu^II, namely catena‐poly[[copper(II)‐bis[μ‐3‐carboxy‐5‐[(imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzoato]] dimethylformamide disolvate], {[Cu(C₁₂H₉N₂O₄)₂]·2C₃H₇NO}_n, (I), and catena‐poly[[copper(II)‐bis[μ‐3‐carboxy‐5‐[(imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzoato]] dimethylacetamide disolvate], {[Cu(C₁₂H₉N₂O₄)₂]·2C₄H₉NO}_n, (II), the formation of which are associated with mono‐deprotonation of H₂L. The two structures are isomorphous and isometric. They consist of one‐dimensional coordination polymers of the organic ligand with Cu^II in a 2:1 ratio, [Cu(μ‐HL)₂]_n, crystallizing as the dimethylformamide (DMF) or dimethylacetamide (DMA) disolvates. The Cu^II cations are characterized by a coordination number of six, being located on centres of crystallographic inversion. In the polymeric chains, each Cu^II cation is linked to four neighbouring HL⁻ ligands, and the organic ligand is coordinated via Cu—O and Cu—N bonds to two Cu^II cations. In the corresponding crystal structures of (I) and (II), the coordination chains, aligned parallel to the c axis, are further interlinked by strong hydrogen bonds between the noncoordinated carboxy groups in one array and the coordinated carboxylate groups of neighbouring chains. Molecules of DMF and DMA (disordered) are accommodated at the interface between adjacent polymeric assemblies. This report provides the first structural evidence for the formation of coordination polymers with H₂Lvia multiple metal–ligand bonds through both carboxylate and imidazole groups.     

(Acetato‐κO)aqua(1H‐imidazole‐κN3)(picolinato‐κ2N,O)copper(II) 0.87‐hydrate: a Z′> 1 structure

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(C₆H₄NO₂)(C₂H₃O₂)(C₃H₄N₂)(H₂O)]·0.87H₂O, has a square‐pyramidal‐coordinated Cu^II centre (the imidazole is trans to the picolinate N atom, the acetate is trans to the picolinate –CO₂ group and the aqua ligand is in a Jahn–Teller‐elongated apical position) and has two symmetry‐independent molecules in the unit cell (Z′ = 2), which are connected through complementary imidazole–picolinate N—H...O hydrogen bonding. The two partially occupied solvent water molecules are each disordered over two positions. The disordered solvent water molecules, together with pseudosymmetry elements, support the notion that a crystal structure with multiple identical chemical formula units in the structural asymmetric unit (Z′ > 1) can represent a crystal `on the way', that is, a kinetic intermediate form which has not yet reached its thermodynamic minimum. Neighbouring molecules form π–π stacks between their imidazole and picolinate N‐heterocycles, with centroid–centroid distances in the range 3.582 (2)–3.764 (2) Å.