Synthesis,structure and characterization of two copper(II) supramolecular coordination polymers based on a multifunctional ligand 2‐amino‐4‐sulfobenzoic acid

Copper(II) coordination polymers have attracted considerable interest due to their catalytic, adsorption, luminescence and magnetic properties. The reactions of copper(II) with 2‐amino‐4‐sulfobenzoic acid (H₂asba) in the presence/absence of the auxiliary chelating ligand 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) under ambient conditions yielded two supramolecular coordination polymers, namely (3‐amino‐4‐carboxybenzene‐1‐sulfonato‐κO¹)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper(II) 3‐amino‐4‐carboxybenzene‐1‐sulfonate monohydrate, Cu(C₇H₆N₂O₅S)(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂](C₇H₆N₂O₅S)·H₂O, (1), and catena‐polydiaquacopper(II)]‐μ‐3‐amino‐4‐carboxylatobenzene‐1‐sulfonato‐κ²O⁴:O^4′], Cu(C₇H₆N₂O₅S)(H₂O)₂]_n, (2). The products were characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), solid‐state UV–Vis spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, as well as by variable‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction analysis (VT‐PXRD). Intermolecular π–π stacking interactions in (1) link the mononuclear copper(II) cation units into a supramolecular polymeric chain, which is further extended into a supramolecular double chain through interchain hydrogen bonds. Supramolecular double chains are then extended into a two‐dimensional supramolecular double layer through hydrogen bonds between the lattice Hasba^? anions, H₂O molecules and double chains. Left‐ and right‐handed 2₁ helices formed by the Hasba^? anions are arranged alternately within the two‐dimensional supramolecular double layers. Complex (2) exhibits a polymeric chain which is further extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular network through interchain hydrogen bonds. Complex (1) shows a reversible dehydration–rehydration behaviour, while complex (2) shows an irreversible dehydration–rehydration behaviour.