Hydrogen-bonded metal-complex sulfonate (MCS) inclusion compounds: effect of the guest molecule on the host framework

Soft molecular host frameworks made of the hydrogen-bonded metal complex (MC) Co(NH3)(6)3+ and 4,4'-biphenyldisulfonate (BPDS) include different guest molecules to form inclusion compounds of the type (MC)2(BPDS)3.n(guest). Structurally characterized were six compounds with guest molecules of DMSO, DMF, piperidine, acetone, acetonitrile, and THF. The metal-complex sulfonate frameworks in all of them are of the pillared layer type where the layers are constructed of extensively hydrogen-bonded metal-complex cations and sulfonate (S) anions (and some hydrogen-bonded water) while the organic residues of the 4,4'-biphenyldisulfonate serve as pillars. The hydrogen-bonded MCS layers and the orientations of the pillars adjust and rearrange in order to generate cavities that would accommodate different guest molecules. The steric, electronic, and hydrogen-bonding needs of the guest molecules mold the soft framework into different structures. These MCS host-guest frameworks are very close structural analogues of the well-studied guanidinium sulfonate (GS) networks and mimic their flexibility and overall durability.     

High guest inclusion in 3β-amino-7α,12α-dihydroxycholan-24-oic acid enabled by charge-assisted hydrogen bonds

3β-Amino-7α,12α-dihydroxycholan-24-oic acid (2) forms inclusion compounds with high ratio (host/guest=1/4) of guest methanol. Both hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions are important to the solid structure. The cholates assemble in a head-to-tail fashion to form infinite hydrogen-bonded chains. The chains are interconnected between cholates and also through the guests. Large channels are formed along the crystallographic a axis where most of the methanol molecules are located. Presence of a dominant hydrogen-bonding motif (i.e., ammonium-carboxylate ion pairing) is probably responsible for high guest incorporation.     

Novel flexible frameworks of porous cobalt(II) coordination polymers that show selective guest adsorption based on the switching of hydrogen-bond pairs of amide groups

Four porous crystalline coordination polymers with two-dimensional frameworks of a double-edged axe-shaped motif, [[Co(NCS)(2)(3-pia)(2)] x 2 EtOH.11 H(2)O](n) (1 a), [[Co(NCS)(2)(3-pia)(2)] x 4 Me(2)CO](n) (3 a), [[Co(NCS)(2)(3-pia)(2)] x 4T HF](n) (3 b) and [[Co(NCS)(2)(3-pna)(2)](n)] (5), have been synthesized by the reaction of cobalt(II) thiocyanate with N-(3-pyridyl)isonicotinamide (3-pia) or N-(3-pyridyl)nicotinamide (3-pna). X-ray crystallographic characterization reveals that adjacent layers are stacked such that channels are created, except in 5. The channels form a hydrogen-bonded interior for guest molecules; in practice, 1 a contains ethanol and water molecules as guests in the channels with hydrogen bonds, whereas 3 b (3 a) contains tetrahydrofuran (acetone) molecules. In 1 a, the "double-edged axe-shaped" motifs in adjacent sheets are not located over the top of each other, while the motifs in 3 b stack so perfectly as to overlap each other in an edge-to-edge fashion. This subtle change in the three-dimensional framework is associated with the template effect of the guests. Compound 5 has no guest molecules and, therefore, the amide groups in one sheet are used for hydrogen-bonding links with adjacent sheets. Removal of the guest molecules from 1 a and 3 b (3 a) causes a structural conversion accompanied by a color change. Pink 1 a cannot retain its original framework and changes into a blue amorphous compound. On the other hand, the framework of pink 3 b (3 a) is transformed to a new crystalline framework of violet 4. Interestingly, 4 reverts to the original pink crystals of 3 b (3 a) when it is exposed to THF (or acetone) vapor. Spectroscopic measurements (visible, EPR, and IR) provide a clue to the crystal-to-crystal transformation; on removal of the guests, the amide groups are used to form the beta sheet-type hydrogen bonding between the sheets, and thus the framework withstands significant stress on removal of guest molecules. This mechanism is attributed to the arrangement of the adjacent sheets so suited in regularity that the beta sheet-type structure forms efficiently. The apohost 4 does not adsorb cyclopentane, showing a guest selectivity that, in addition to size, hydrogen-bonding capability is required for the guest molecules. The obtained compound is categorized as a member of a new generation of compounds tending towards functional porous coordination polymers.     

Self-assembly of dipeptidyl ureas: a new class of hydrogen-bonded molecular duplexes

The dipeptidyl urea 1 composed of two dipeptide chains bearing the C-terminal pyridyl moiety (-L-Ala-L-Pro-NHPy) was prepared. Two molecules of 1 are revealed to be held together by six intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form a hydrogen-bonded duplex by the single-crystal X-ray structure determination. Proton magnetic resonance nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) study indicates the hydrogen-bonded duplex even in solution. Furthermore, a shuttle-like molecular dynamics based on recombination of the hydrogen bonds was observed. The dipeptidyl urea composed of two dipeptide chains bearing the C-terminal pyrenyl moiety (-L-Ala-L-Pro-NHCH(2)Pyr) exhibited both monomer and eximer emissions in the fluorescence spectra, supporting the formation of a duplex. A combination of the C-terminal amide NH function in each side and the designed sequence of hydrogen-bonding sites are considered to be a crucial factor for the duplex formation.     

In situ Alkylation of 4,4'-Bipyridine in Hydrothermal Synthesis of an Iodoplumbate Inorganic-organic Hybrid with Fluorescence

A novel 1-D iodoplumbate hybrid,2(Pb3I9)3-·3(C14H18N2)2+ 1,has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR spectra,TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic,space group P21/c,with a=12.057(2),b=14.024(3),c=24.742(5) ,β=90.48(3)°,V=4183.6(14)3,Z=4,R=0.0477 and wR=0.0800.The title compound consists of 1-D chains(Pb3I9)n3n-parallel to the [100] direction and stacks of alkylated 4,4'-bipyridium cations running along the [011] direction.Each anionic chain is surrounded by six arrays of alkylated 4,4'-bipyridium cations through extensive C-H…I atypical hydrogen-bonding interactions to afford an interesting 3-D supramolecular network.Significant fluorescent property of the compound was observed at room temperature.     

Crystallization of Two Cyanide-bridged Bimetallic Complexes [LN(DMSO)2(H2O)3Co(CN)6]·H2O (LN = Pr or Nd, DMSO = Dimethylsulfoxide)

1INTRODUCTIONRecently,therehasbeenconsiderableinterestinthelanthanide(III)hexacyanoferrates,theanalogoushexacyanocobaltateandhexacyanochromiumatecom-plexesbecauseoftheirpotentialapplicationsascata-lyticandsemi-conductivematerials.InitialstudiesofmetalhexacyanocobaltateswerecarriedoutbyJa-mesandWilland[1]whoreportedtheamountofhy-drationassociatedwithmicroscopiccrystalsofsever-allanthanidecomplexes.FurtherBonnetandParis[2]studiedtheLNCo(CN)6?nH2Oseries(n=4)byusinginfraredandX-raymethod…     

Hydrogen-bonded extended arrays of the [Re6(mu3-Se)8]2+ core-containing clusters

Site-differentiated solvated clusters of the general formula [Re(6)(mu(3)-Se)(8)(PEt(3))(n)(MeCN)(6)(-)(n)](SbF(6))(2) (n = 4, cis and trans; n = 5) undergo ligand substitution reaction with isonicotinamide to afford the corresponding amide derivatives, [Re(6)(mu(3)-Se)(8)(PEt(3))(n)(isonicotinamide)(6)(-)(n)](2+) [1 (n = 5); 2 (n = 4, trans); 3 (n = 4, cis)]. Retention of stereochemistry in each case was confirmed by (1)H and (31)P NMR. The solid-state structures of all three compounds were established crystallographically, which revealed self-complementary hydrogen-bonding interactions between adjacent cluster units. While complex 1 exists as hydrogen-bonded dimers in the solid state, compounds 2 and 3 form one-dimensional chains of clusters bridged by paired hydrogen bonds. It is the rigid stereochemistry of the cluster, combined with the classic crystal engineering motif of complementary N-H.O amide hydrogen bonding, that affords the predictable solid-state structures and dimensionality.     

Hydrogen-bonded network and enforced supramolecular cavities in molecular crystals: An orthogonal aromatic-triad strategy. Guest binding,molecular recognition,and molecular alignment properties of a bisresorcinol derivative of anthracene in the crystalline state

Abstract

Crystallization of an orthogonal resorcinol-anthracene-resorcinol compound 1a (host) from an ester solvent such as alkyl benzoate (guest) affords a 1:2 host-guest adduct 1a·2(ester). An essential aspect of the crystal structures of ethyl, propyl, and isobutyl benzoate adducts (space group, P2₁/n) and also that of methyl benzoate adduct (C2/c) is an extensive hydrogen-bonded network of host 1a, leading to a molecular sheet composed of hydrogen-bonded polyresorcinol chains and anthracene columns. This network generates well-defined, cyclophane-like supramolecular cavities, which incorporate two alkyl benzoate molecules in a highly selective manner via a combination of essential host-guest hydrogen-bonding and what may be called the cavity-packing effect. The selectivity factor between methyl benzoate (the lowest-affinity guest) and isobutyl benzoate (the highest-affinity guest) is 1:70 under competitive conditions. The actual geometry of the cavity is somehow dependent on and hence induced-fit adjustable to the guest structures by manipulating the intramolecular (anthracene-resorcinol dihedral angle) and intermolecular conformation (tilt angle between two hydrogen-bonded resorcinol rings) of compound 1a as well as the sheet-to-sheet distance. The adducts 1a·2(guest) can also be obtained by solid-state guest-exchange or guest-binding, respectively, using a preformed adduct or guest-free apohost dipped in an appropriate guest solvent. The methyl benzoate adducts obtained in these ways exhibit the same X-ray powder diffraction pattern as the genuine single-crystal obtained by direct crystallization of host 1a from methyl benzoate. Thus, even internal supramolecular cavities maintained by the hydrogen-bonded network are readily accessible to molecules in bulk solution. In addition, they undergo an induced-fit adjustment to a guest molecule newly added by the guest-exchange or the guest-binding process, during which the crystallinity is maintained. The potential use of symmetrical and divergent multiple hydrogen-bonding sites with an orthogonal aromatic spacer (orthogonal aromatic-triad strategy) is discussed in terms of a tool to construct a new class of porous organic crystals that show novel molecular recognition, crystalline-state guest-binding, and crystalline-phase molecular alignment properties.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [Zn(HPDB)2(H2O)2]n·2nDMSO·2nH2O (H2-PDB = Pyridine-3,4-dicarboxylic Acid)

The title complex [Zn(HPDB)2(H2O)2]n·(2nDMSO(2nH2O(H2-PDB is pyridine-3, 4-dicarboxylic acid and DMSO the dimethyl sulphoxide) was synthesized under traditional solution condition. Its crystal (C18H28N2O14S2Zn) belongs to monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 8.2791(6), b = 12.5495(10), c = 13.6519(11)(A), β = 105.294(2)°, V = 1368.18(18)(A)3, Z = 2, Mr = 625.91, Dx = 1.514 g/cm3, μ = 1.117 mm-1, F(000) = 648, R = 0.0654 and wR = 0.1654 for 2414 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). It has a 2-D planar network, in which the Zn atom is six-coor- dinated and hydrogen bonds between carboxylate groups, DMSO and water molecules result in the final 3D structure.     

Resorcarenes in the boat conformation as building blocks for hydrogen-bonded assemblies including two ammonium cations

Crystal structures are reported for various co-crystals of rccc-resorcarenes with triethylammonium chloride. Usually, two molecules of a C2v-symmetric tetraester 2 in the boat conformation are linked through four hydrogen-bonded chloride anions to give dimeric assemblies. Two of the chloride anions may be replaced by four hydrogen-bonded ethanol molecules in an otherwise similar structure. These assemblies, which consist of six or eight components, posses voluminous, negatively charged chambers in which two triethylammionium cations, 3+, are included as guests by strong electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. The host-guest N-H...Cl hydrogen bonds were clearly detected at 173 K. These are the first examples of hydrogen-bonded, solid-state capsules trapping two ions of the same charge in close proximity. In the 1:2 complex with 3+ Cl-, the molecule of the parent resorcarene 1 also adopts a boat conformation whose cavity is considerably extended by four hydrogen-bonded chloride anions. The pocket formed in this way again includes two 3+ ions as a result of electrostatic and hydrogen bonding host-guest interactions. All these structures show that the boat conformers of resorcarenes can be used as a novel motif for the construction of hydrogen-bonded assemblies capable of molecular inclusion and encapsulation.     

A New Series of Charge-assisted Hydrogen-bonded Host Frameworks Based on [Co（en）_3]~（3＋）and Dicarboxylates

A new series of metal complex carboxylates(MCC)made of [Co(en)3]3+(MC)and either 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic(NDC)or 4,4-biphenyldicarboxylic(BPDC)were synthesized and structurally characterized.The four new compounds have a general formula(MC)2(C)3·n(guest)with the guests of dimethylformamide(DMF)and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)and water.All the structures represent a pillared-layer type,where the layer consists of MC cations,carboxylate anions or water molecules via a large number of hydrogen bonds.The layers are pillared by the organic residues of NDC or BPDC,resulting in the inclusion cavities where the guest molecules reside.Although their topological structures are similar,they crystallize in different crystal structures due to the rearrangement of pillars and hydrogen-bonded layers.     

Femtosecond pump-probe measurements of solvation by hydrogen-bonding interactions.

An additional ultrafast blue shift in the transient absorption spectra of hydrogen-bonding complexes of a strong photoacid, 8-hydroxypyrene 1,3,6-trisdimethylsulfonamide (HPTA), over the solvation response of the uncomplexed HPTA and also over that of the methoxy derivative of the photoacid (MPTA) in the presence of the hydrogen-bonding base was observed on optical excitation of the photoacid. The additional 55 +/- 10 fs solvation response was found to be about 35 % and 19% of the total C(t) of HPTA in dichloromethane (DCM) when it was hydrogen-bonded to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and dioxane, respectively, and about 29% of the total C(t) of HPTA in dichloroethane (DCE) when it was hydrogen-bonded to DMSO. We have assigned this additional dynamic spectral shift to a transient change in the hydrogen bond (O-H...O) that links HPTA to the complexing base, after the electronic excitation of the photoacid.     

Dynamic molecular recognition in the generation of a new crystal-engineering motif: a unique case study of a dicarboxylic acid with a ditopic receptor favouring a polymeric over a dimeric hydrogen-bonded supramolecular complex

A new crystal-engineering motif has been developed where a ditopic receptor 1 shows a novel syn-syn hydrogen-bonded polymeric supramolecular complex (Fig. 4b) (instead of a 1:1 dimeric syn-syn or polymeric syn-anti complex) giving rise to a hydrogen-bonded stair-like polymeric ribbon structure between the binding groups of the receptor pyridine amide and the carboxyl groups of the guest substrate.     

Dimensionality control of vapochromic hydrogen-bonded proton-transfer assemblies composed of a bis(hydrazone)iron(II) complex

We describe the novel synthesis of a bis(hydrazone)iron(II) complex in protonated [Fe(Hpbph)(2)]Cl(2) (1) and deprotonated [Fe(pbph)(2)] (2) forms and several hydrogen-bonded proton-transfer (HBPT) assemblies having different dimensionalities of hydrogen-bonded network structures, [Fe(Hpbph)(2)](CA)·2CH(3)OH (3), [Fe(Hpbph)(2)](HCA)(2)·2THF (4), and [Fe(Hpbph)(2)](CA)(H(2)CA)(2)·2CH(3)CN (5) (Hpbph = 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde-2-pyridylhydrazone), consisting of a deprotonated Fe(II)-hydrazone complex (2) as a proton acceptor (A) and chloranilic acid (H(2)CA) as a proton donor (D). The deprotonated complex 2 exhibited two-step reversible protonation reactions to form the double-protonated form 1, and the acid-dissociation constants were determined to be 7.6 and 10.3 in methanol solution. Utilizing this proton-accepting ability of 2, we succeeded in synthesizing HBPT assemblies 3, 4, and 5 from the reactions in CH(3)OH, THF, and CH(3)CN, respectively, with the same D/A ratio of H(2)CA/[Fe(pbph)(2)] = 10:1. These assemblies were found to have one-dimensional (1-D), two-dimensional (2-D), and three-dimensional (3-D) hydrogen-bonded networks with D/A ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 for 3, 4, and 5, respectively. In 3, a 1-D hydrogen-bonded chain composed of the alternate arrangement of [Fe(Hpbph)(2)](2+) and CA(2-), {···[Fe(Hpbph)(2)](2+)···CA(2-)···}(∞), was surrounded by solvated methanol molecules to form isolated 1-D hydrogen-bonded chains. In the HBPT assembly 4, a 2-D hydrogen-bonded sheet was formed from two types of hydrogen-bonded chains, {···[Fe(Hpbph)(2)](2+)···HCA(-)···HCA(-)···}(∞) and {···HCA(-)···HCA(-)···}(∞), and solvated THF molecules did not form any hydrogen bonds. In 5, two orthogonal hydrogen-bonded chains constructed from the neutral chloranilic acid molecules, {···CA(2-)···2(H(2)CA)···}(∞), were formed in addition to the 1-D hydrogen-bonded chain similar to that in 3, resulting in the formation of a rigid 3-D hydrogen-bonded network structure. By controlling the dimensionality of the hydrogen bond network, we found that the 2-D HBPT assembly 4 is sufficiently flexible to exhibit interesting vapochromic behavior in response to various organic vapors.     

Hydrogen-bonded 1D and 2D Assemblies of Tetraiso-butyl-resorcin[4]arene in the Crystalline State

1 INTRODUCTION There is continuing interest in the assembly of molecular capsules based on concomitant formation of multiple hydrogen bonds between smaller mole- cular components[1]. A particularly attractive buil- ding block is calix[4]resorcinarenes with eight pen- dant hydroxyl functional groups[2]. In a crystal engi- neering design strategy for molecular self-assembly, cocrystallization of C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarenes with nitrogen-donor molecules such as pyridines in the presence …     

Crystal-engineering studies of coordination polymers and a molecular-looped complex containing dipyridyl-amide ligands

We report herein crystal-engineering studies of coordination polymers and a molecular-looped complex containing two dipyridyl-amide ligands, 1,3-bis-pyridin-4-ylmethyl urea (L1) and N,N'-bis-4-methylpyridyl oxalamide (L2). The reaction of Cd(OAc)2 with L1 gives rise to [Cd(OAc)2(L1)]n (1), a 1-D chain through coordination to two L1 and two acetate ligands, and then the axial coordination to one urea's carbonyl group through the third L1 ligand leads 1 to form "a dimer of 1-D chains". With a slight change in the structural backbone from L1 to L2, the reaction of L2 with Cd(OAc)2 gives [Cd(OAc)2(L2)(H2O)]n (2), a 1-D chain structure. The reaction of Cd(NO3)2, instead of Cd(OAc)2, with L2 gives [Cd(NO3)2(L2)3/2]n (3), where the coordinated-anion effect on the assembly process has been observed for 2 and 3. The former forms a 1-D chain structure, and the latter, a 2-D sheet structure, depending on the coordinated anions used. [HgCl2(L1)]n (4) and [CuCl2(L2)]n (5), which are 1-D chain structures, show tetrahedral [Hg(II)] and square-planar [Cu(II)] centers, respectively. Surprisingly, 4 shows a typical amide-amide hydrogen bonding and 5 shows none. Instead, a hydrogen-bonding interaction between Cl and the amide group is observed in 5. Finally, the different structural conformation of L2 (a syn or anti form) leads to the formation of different structural motifs, coordination polymers (2, 3, and 5 with an anti form), and a macrocycle ([Pd(PPy)(L2)]2(ClO4)2 (6) with a syn form, PPy = 2-phenylpyridine). Each side of the boat form of 6 (pseudo-cyclohexane) ranges from 6.12 to 6.39 A, and the molecular loop is further hydrogen-bonded to stack into a 1-D hydrogen-bonded framework with a ladder pattern through amide-amide hydrogen bonding. Interestingly, one ClO4- anion is encapsulated inside the cavity through multiple CH...O interactions.     

The role of methyl groups in the formation of hydrogen bond in DMSO-methanol mixtures

When examining the formation energetics of a hydrogen-bonded complex R-X-H...Y-R', focus has been almost always on the atoms directly involved, namely the atoms X, Y, and H. Little attention has been paid to the effects of the secondary alkyl groups R and R'. Taking dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-methanol binary system as an example, we have studied the roles of the alkyl groups in stabilizing the hydrogen bonds by employing FTIR and NMR techniques and quantum chemical calculations. We found that methyl groups play different roles in response to the hydrogen-bonding interactions. The methyl groups of DMSO are electron-donating, whereas that of methanol is electron-withdrawing, both making positive contributions. The findings reveal non-negligible effects of secondary alkyl groups in hydrogen bonding interaction and may shed light on the understanding of other more complicated hydrogen-bonded systems in chemical and biological systems.     

手性氨基醇诱导联苯构象转化制备轴手性联苯化合物

在(S)-氨基丙醇及(R)-氨基丙醇手性臂的作用下, (M/P)-4,4'-二甲氧基-5,6,5',6'-二次甲二氧基-2-甲酸酯-2'-甲酰氨联苯经构型转化, 制备了光学纯轴手性联苯化合物(P, S)-3a 和(M, R)-3a. 测定了(P, S)-3a 的晶体结构及CD 光谱. 结果表明, 化合物(P, S)-3a 晶体属单斜晶系, P2(1)空间群, 晶胞参数为a＝12.122(2) Å, b＝8.9911(18) Å, c＝12.779(3) Å, β＝112.38(3)°, 在晶体中存在两组分子间氢键相互作用, 一组氢键由羟基氢与另一分子酰胺基团的羰基氧组成O-H…O,另一组由酰胺基团的NH 与另一分子酰胺基团的羰基氧构成N-H…O, 每一分子通过四个氢键与另外两个分子相连,构成棒状结构. 由CD 光谱确定了(M, R)-3b 的立体构型. 此外, 由(P, S)-3a 合成了轴手性化合物(P)-2,2'-二羟甲基-4,4'-二甲氧基-5,6,5',6'-二亚甲二氧基-联苯(6a).     

Novel polyoxometalate-templated, 3-D supramolecular networks based on lanthanide dimers: synthesis,structure, and fluorescent properties of [Ln2(DNBA)4(DMF)8][Mo6O19] (DNBA = 3,5-dinitrobenzoate)

The spherical Lindquist type polyoxometalate, Mo(6)O(19)(2)(-), has been used as a noncoordinating anionic template for the construction of novel three-dimensional lanthanide-aromatic monocarboxylate dimer supramolecular networks [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)][Mo(6)O(19)] (Ln = La 1, Ce 2, and Eu 3, DNBA = 3,5-dinitrobenzoate, DMF = dimethylformamide). The title compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffractions. X-ray diffraction experiments reveal that two Ln(III) ions are bridged by four 3,5-dinitrobenzoate anions as asymmetrically bridging ligands, leading to dimeric cores, [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)](2+); [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)](2+) groups are joined together by pi-pi stacking interactions between the aromatic groups to form a two-dimensional grid-like network; the 2-D supramolecular layers are further extended into 3-D supramolecular networks with 1-D box-like channels by hydrogen-bonding interactions, in which hexamolybdate polyanions reside. The compounds represent the first examples of 3-D carboxylate-bridged lanthanide dimer supramolecular "host" networks formed by pi-pi stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions encapsulating noncoordinating "guest" polyoxoanion species. The fluorescent activity of compound 3 is reported.     

Flexible square supramolecular rings with hydrogen-bonded bushing in solid-state oxalurate complexes: versatility of the oxalurate ligand in covalent and noncovalent binding

Isotypic pseudooctahedral complexes of Co, Ni, and Cu with two chelating oxalurate ligands and two water molecules, trans-[M(oxalurate)(2)(H(2)O)(2)], have been synthesized and isolated by a novel progressive crystallization technique. Diffraction analyses reveal that the three complexes form isotypic solid-state structures in which the molecular connectivity and complex network of noncovalent interactions are qualitatively identical throughout the series. The oxalurate groups form unbounded chains through two different self-recognition patterns-a typical DA-AD motif and an unusual DDA'-A'DD form (D = hydrogen bond donor, A' = double acceptor). The unsymmetrical oxalurate group possesses the topological properties necessary to form aggregates of higher symmetry, and the "M(oxalurate)(2)" fragments form a rhombic 2-D motif with hydrogen-bonded corners and with hydrogen-bond acceptors directed to the inside of the cyclic aggregate. The 2-D net is stacked to form a channeled 3-D structure, in which the coordinated aqua ligands form the principal interlayer interactions. The slanted channels are occupied by the axial waters and by waters of crystallization, which are hydrogen bonded to the channel walls to form an ordered bushing. The extensive 3-D hydrogen-bonded superstructure is flexible enough to accommodate the distortion produced by the Jahn-Teller effect in the copper compound without requiring a qualitative structural change. The bonds affected by Jahn-Teller distortion in the Cu complex [Cu-O = 2.3788(15) A] are significantly longer than their analogues in the Co and Ni complexes [Co-O = 2.175(2), Ni-O = 2.094(9) A].