A series of silver coordination polymers constructed from flexible bis(benzimidazole) ligands and different carboxylates

In this article, eight new silver coordination polymers constructed from two structurally related ligands, 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(2-methylbenzimidazole) (bbmb) and 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(2-ethylbenzimedazole) (bbeb), have been synthesized: Ag(L1)(bbmb)]·C₂H₅OH·H₂O (1), Ag(L2)(bbmb)]·C₂H₅OH (2), Ag(L3)(bbmb)] (3), Ag₂(L4)(bbmb)₂]·C₂H₅OH (4), Ag(L2)(bbeb)]·C₂H₅OH (5), Ag(L5)(bbeb)]·CH₃OH (6), Ag₂(L6)₂(bbeb)]·H₂O (7), and Ag₂(L7)(bbeb)₂]·4(H₂O) (8), where L1 = benzoate anion, L2 = p-methoxybenzoate anion, L3 = 2-amino-benzoate anion, L4 = oxalate anion, L5 = cinnamate ainon, L6 = 3-amino-benzoate anion, and L7 = fumaric anion. In 1-3, 5 and 6, the bidentate N-donor ligands (bbmb and bbeb) in trans conformations bridge neighboring silver centers to form 1D single chain structures. The carboxylate anions are attached on both sides of the chains. Moreover, 1 and 3 are extended into 2D layers, while 2 and 6 are extended into 3D frameworks through π-π interactions. In 4, the bbmb ligands bridge adjacent Ag(I) centers to form -Ag-bbmb-Ag- chains, which are further connected by L4 anions to form a 2D layer. The resulting layers are extended into 3D frameworks through strong π-π interactions. In 7, the N-donor ligands (bbeb) in trans conformations bridge two silver centers to generate a Ag₂(bbeb)]²⁺ unit. The adjacent Ag₂(bbeb)]²⁺ units are further connected via the L6 anions to form a 1D ladder chain. Moreover, the structure of compound 7 is extended into a 3D framework through hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. In 8, two Ag(I) cations are bridged by two bbeb ligands in cis conformations to form a Ag₂(bbeb)₂]²⁺ ring, which are further linked by L7 anions to generate a 1D string chain. Furthermore, the hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions link L7 anions to form a 2D supramolecular sheet. Additionally, the luminescent properties of these compounds were also studied.