Effects of adjacent groups of benzimidazole on antioxidation of polybenzimidazoles

The chemical oxidative stabilities of poly(2,2-(m-phenylene)-5,5-bibenzimidazole) (PBI-ph), poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI), poly(2,2′-hexyl-5,5′-bibenzimidazole) (PBI-hex), and poly(2,2′-imidazole-5,5′-bibenzimidazole) (PBI-imi) are studied. By means of FTIR and ¹HNMR analysis, more information about the degradation process of PBI-ph is found as: CH₂ groups are left in the residual polymers; after the N-H bond and the trisubstituted benzene ring are oxidized by oxidative free radicals, the meta-phenylene is relatively stable. Through Fenton tests, the chemical oxidative stabilities of these PBIs are compared and results show that PBI-ph is the stablest material while PBI-imi is the unstablest one. Through FTIR analysis, the structure changes to those degraded PBIs are compared. The conjugated structure formed between meta-phenyl and benzimidazole can protect the main chain of PBI-ph from the attack of oxidative free radicals. Additionally, effects of acid on PBI-ph degradation rate are evaluated and the results show that phosphoric acid can slow down the chemical oxidative degradation.     

Grafting Vinyl Monomers onto Cellulose. IX. Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate onto Cellulose Using Peroxydiphosphate-Fe(ll) and Mn(ll) Redox Systems

The vacuum or inert-atmosphere condensation of diphenyl isophthalate and 2,2′,3,3′-tetraaminobiphenyl to poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole has been investigated. Evidence from polymer and model compound (diphenylbibenzimidazole) spectral studies, elemental analysis, and analysis of volatile effluent indicates that the prepolymer formed at 260 to 300°C contains both benzimidazole and hydroxybenzimidazoline but is essentially free from phenoxybenzimidazole structures. A mechanism involving loss of phenol initially, followed by evolution of water to give benzimidazole structures, is established from experimental evidence. Polymerization in vacuum to 400°C gives the polybenzimidazole.     

Synthesis and characterization of new copolymers of thiophene and vinylene: Poly(thienylenevinylene)s and poly(terthienylenevinylene)s with thioether side chains

Poly[3,4-bis(3-methylbutylthio)thienylenevinylene], poly[3,4-bis-(S)-(2-methylbutylthio)thienylenevinylene], poly[3′,4′-bis(3-methylbutylthio)-2,2′:5′,2″-terthienylene-5,5″-vinylene], and poly{3′,4′-bis-(S)-[2-methylbutylthio]-2,2′:5′,2″-terthienylene-5,5″-vinylene} have been synthesized. The synthesis starts from the thiophene monomers and trimers, which are formylated to give the corresponding dialdehydes. The dialdehydes are reductively polymerized using a McMurry coupling. The polymers are characterized by GPC, optical spectroscopy (FT-IR, UV-vis, circular dichroism spectroscopy and photoluminescence) and by proton and carbon NMR spectroscopy. The polymers are soluble in common organic solvents, such as THF, chloroform, toluene, benzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. The solvatochromism and thermochromism of the polymers in solution are investigated, while the optical activity of the polymers is used to investigate the supramolecular aggregation. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4629–4639, 1999     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic poly (ether sulfone)s and poly (ether ketone)s based on methyl-substituted biphenyl-4,4′-diols

Novel methyl-substituted aromatic poly (ether sulfone)s and poly (ether ketone)s were synthesized from combinations of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbipheny-4,4′-diol and 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′-hexamethylbiphenyl-4,4′-diol, and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone and 4,4′-difluorobenzo-phenone by nucleophilic aromatic substitution polycondensation. The polycondensations proceeded quantitatively in a N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone-toluene solvent system in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate to afford the polymers with inherent viscosities between 0.86 and 1.55 dL/g. The methyl-substituted poly (ether sulfone)s and poly (ether ketone)s showed good solubility in common organic solvents such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, m-cresol, and N,N-dimethylacetamide. The tetramethyl- and hexamethyl-substituted aromatic polyethers had higher glass transition temperatures than the corresponding unsubstituted polymers, and did not decompose below 350°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. The films of the methyl-substituted poly (ether ketone)s became insoluble in chloroform by the irradiation of ultraviolet light, indicating the occurrence of photochemical crosslinking reactions. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Characterization of Nitro-Substituted Polybenzimidazole Synthesized by the Reaction with Nitric Acid

Abstract

Nitro-substituted poly[2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole]s (PBIs) were synthesized by the reaction of PBI with nitric acid in sulfuric acid under various conditions. The number of nitro groups substituted on the aromatic ring of PBI per polymeric unit varied from 1.44 to 3.55 according to the reaction conditions. An increase in reaction temperature and concentration of the nitric acid increased the degree of substitution. The inherent viscosity of the substituted polymer increased as the reaction temperature decreased. When the reaction temperature was 30°C, the inherent viscosity of the polymer increased as the concentration of nitric acid increased. The nitro-substituted PBI exhibited polyelectrolyte behavior in formic acid. The nitro groups substituted on PBI were dissociated when the polymer was heated to 450°C, displaying exothermic behavior, and the decomposition of polymer was proportional to its nitro group content. All nitro-substituted PBIs showed better solubilities in polar aprotic and acidic solvents, such as dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, formic acid, sulfuric acid, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.     

Synthesis and Properties of Aromatic Poly(Ether Sulfone)s and Poly(Etherketone)s Containing Naphthalene or Quinoline Units,and Methyl-Substituted Biphenyl-4,4′-Diols

Abstract

A series of poly(ether sulfone)s and poly(ether ketone)s were synthesized from combinations of 1,5- and 2,6-bis(4-fluorosulfonyl)naphthalene, 2,6-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)naphthalene, and 2,6-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)quinoline with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbiphenyl-4,4′-diol and 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′-hexamethylbiphenyl-4,4′-diol. The polycondensations proceeded quantitatively in diphenylsulfone in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate to afford polymers with inherent viscosities between 0.40 and 1.28 dL/g measured in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or concentrated sulfuric acid. The tetramethyl- and hexamethyl-substituted aromatic polyethers exhibited good thermal stability, did not decompose below 330°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres, and had higher glass transition temperatures than the corresponding unsubstituted polymers. The methylsubstituted poly(ether sulfone)s and poly(ether ketone)s showed good solubility in such common organic solvents as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and 1,4-dioxane.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic poly(ether sulfone imide)s derived from sulfonyl bis(ether anhydride)s and aromatic diamines

Two sulfonyl group-containing bis(ether anhydride)s, 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(1,4-phenylene)dioxy]diphthalic anhydride ( IV ) and 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)dioxy]diphthalic anhydride (Me- IV ), were prepared in three steps starting from the nucleophilic nitrodisplacement reaction of the bisphenolate ions of 4,4′-sulfonyldiphenol and 4,4′-sulfonylbis(2,6-dimethylphenol) with 4-nitrophthalonitrile in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). High-molar-mass aromatic poly(ether sulfone imide)s were synthesized via a conventional two-stage procedure from the bis(ether anhydride)s and various aromatic diamines. The inherent viscosities of the intermediate poly(ether sulfone amic acid)s were in the ranges of 0.30–0.47 dL/g for those from IV and 0.64–1.34 dL/g for those from Me- IV. After thermal imidization, the resulting two series of poly(ether sulfone imide)s had inherent viscosities of 0.25–0.49 and 0.39–1.19 dL/g, respectively. Most of the polyimides showed distinct glass transitions on their differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, and their glass transition temperatures (T_g) were recorded between 223–253 and 252–288°C, respectively. The results of thermogravimetry (TG) revealed that all the poly(ether sulfone imide)s showed no significant weight loss before 400°C. The methyl-substituted polymers showed higher T_g's but lower initial decomposition temperatures and less solubility compared to the corresponding unsubstituted polymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1649–1656, 1998     

Preparation and characterization of aromatic copolyesters containing the o,o′-biphenylene ring system

Poly[oxy-2,2′-diphenyleneoxyisophthaloyl-b-oxy(2-methyl-1,3-phenylene)oxyterephthaloyl] I, poly[oxy-2,2′-diphenyleneoxyterephthaloyl-b-oxy(2-methyl-1,3-phenylene)oxyterephthaloyl] II, poly(oxy-2,2′-diphenyleneoxyisophthaloyl-b-oxy-2,2′-diphenyleneoxyterephthaloyl) III, poly[oxy-2,2′-diphenyleneoxyterephthaloyl-b-oxy(2-methyl-1,4-phenylene)oxyterephthaloyl] IV, poly[oxy2,2′-diphenyleneoxyterephthaloyl-b-oxy(2-chloro-1,4-phenylene)oxyterephthaloyl] V, poly[oxy-2,2′-diphenyleneoxyterephthaloyl-co-oxy(2-chloro-1,4-phenylene)oxyterephthaloyl] VI, and poly[oxy-2,2′-diphenyleneoxyterephthaloyl-co-oxy(2-methyl-1,4-phenylene)oxyterephthaloyl] VII have been synthesized and characterized. Random copolyester VI appears to form a birefringent fluid phase above the melting temperature.     

Miscible polybenzimidazole blends with a benzophenone-based polyimide

Miscible blends of the aromatic polybenzimidazole, poly(2,2(m-phenylene)-5,5′-benzimidazole) (PBI), and the aromatic polyimide formed from 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 3,3′-diaminobenzophenone (LaRC TPI) have been prepared. Blends with PBI were prepared in N,N-dimethylacetamide solution starting with either the polyamic acid or a 95% imidized form of LaRC TPI; the blend was then precipitated into water or cast as films. The mixture was then imidized thermally to obtain PBI/LaRC TPI blends. Evidence for miscibility was obtained in the form of single composition dependent T_g's intermediate between those of the component polymers and single tan δ dynamic mechanical relaxation peaks. The IR spectra displayed shifts in the N? H stretching band, thereby providing evidence for specific interactions related to the miscibility of these two polymers.     

Isothermal degradation of poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole

The isothermal degradation of poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole in vacuo has been studied. Measurement of the increase in pressure with time, coupled with infrared analysis, was used to determine the distribution of the degradation products. Processes A and B with different second-order rate laws were determined to be significant in the temperature range of 550–700°C. Process A leads to the formation of equimolar quantities of hydrogen and ammonia and has an activation energy of 68 kcal/mole. Process B leads to the production of HCN, NH₃, and H₂ in the ratio of 1:1:2.5 and has an activation energy of 77 kcal/mole. The activation energies and the rate laws are consistent with a mechanism in which the initial degradation step is the bimolecular reaction of two aromatic rings.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorine‐containing polybenzimidazole for proton conducting membranes in fuel cells

Two new kinds of fluorine‐containing polybenzimidazoles (PBI), poly(2,2′‐(tetrafluoro‐p‐phenylene)‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole) and poly(2,2′‐tetradecafluoroheptylene‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole), were synthesized by condensation polymerization of 3,3′‐diaminobenzidine and perfluoroterephthalic acid (or perfluoroazelaic acid), with polyphosphoric acid as solvent. Thermogravimetric analysis results show that the fluorine‐containing polymers synthesized exhibit promising thermal stability. The film‐forming properties of the fluorine‐containing polymers are improved over nonfluorinated PBI. The introduction of fluorine into the backbone of the polymers has significant positive affection on their chemical oxidation stability demonstrated by Fenton test. Compared with poly(2,2′‐(m‐phenylene)‐5,5′‐bibenzimidazole)/phosphoric acid (PA) composite membrane, the resulting fluorinated membranes with a same PA doping level exhibit better flexibility and higher proton conductivity. The maximum proton conductivity gained is 3.05 × 10^?2 S/cm at 150 °C with a PA doping level of 7. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2115–2122, 2010     

Thermal Degradation of Polymers. IV. Poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole

The thermal decomposition of poly-2,2′-(m-phenylene)-5,5′-bibenzimidazole has been investigated at temperatures to 916°C. Mass-spectrometric thermal analysis (MTA), supported by elemental analysis of residues at various stages of a thermogravimetric analysis, was used to determine product distribution as a function of temperature. Below 550°C, the major product is water. Above 550°C, degradation of the heterocyclic structure to hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, carbon monoxide, and water begins. Hydrogen and methane probably are formed from decomposition and condensation of the carbocyclic structure. Activation energies for the formation of each major product were derived from the MTA data. The average of these is somewhat temperature-dependent but agrees within experimental error with the value of 44 ± 11 kcal obtained from isothermal kinetics. A mechanism involving initial hydrolysis of the polymer to an amine-substituted polyamide is postulated. Subsequent homolytic reactions account for formation of the major products.     

Arylidene Polymers. IX. Synthesis,Characterization, and Morphology of New Polyesters of Diarylidenecycloalkanones Containing Thianthrene Units

New polyesters containing thianthrene tetraoxide were synthesized by the interaction of 2,7-dichloroformylthianthrene-5,5′,10, 10′-tetraoxide with 2,5-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene)cyclopentanone, 2,5-divanillylidenecyclopentanone, 2,6-bis(p-hydroxybenzyiidene)-cyclohexanone, 2,6-divanillylidenecyclohexanone, and 2,7-bis(p-hydroxybenzylidene)cycloheptanone by using the interfacial polycondensation technique. The resulting polyesters were characterized by elemental and spectral analyses. All the synthesized polymers readily dissolved at room temperature in dimethylsulfoxide. The thermal properties of the polymers were evaluated and correlated to their structural units by TGA and DSC measurements. X-ray analysis of polymers showed that all the polyesters are amorphous. Moreover, the morphology of a new high performance polyester, poly[oxycarbonyl-2,7-thianthrene-5,5′,10,10′-tetraox-idecarbonzeoxyl(2-methoxy-p-phenylene)methylidyne(2-oxo-1,3-cyclohexanediylidenemethylidyne)methylidene(3-methoxy-p-phenylene)], has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy.     

Synthesis and characterization of alt‐bipyridinylene‐phenylene copolymers containing ruthenium(II) complexes

Poly{bis(4,4′‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine)–(2,2′‐bipyridine‐5,5′‐diyl‐[1,4‐phenylene])–ruthenium(II)bishexafluorophosphate} ( 3a ), poly{bis(4,4′‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine)–(2,2′‐bipyridine‐4,4′‐diyl‐[1,4‐phenylene])–ruthenium(II)bishexafluorophosphate} ( 3b ), and poly{bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)–(2,2′‐bipyridine‐5,5′‐diyl‐[1,4‐phenylene])–ruthenium(II)bishexafluorophosphate} ( 3c ) were synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction. The alternating structure of the copolymers was confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis. The polymers showed, by ultraviolet–visible, the π–π* absorption of the polymer backbone (320–380 nm) and at a lower energy attributed to the d–π* metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer absorption (450 nm for linear 3a and 480 nm for angular 3b ). The polymers were characterized by a monomodal molecular weight distribution. The degree of polymerization was approximately 8 for polymer 3b and 28 for polymer 3d . © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2911–2919, 2004     

Syntheses and characterization of carbazole based new low‐band gap copolymers containing highly soluble benzimidazole derivatives for solar cell application

Newly designed 2H‐benzimidazole derivatives which have solubility groups at 2‐position have been synthesized and incorporated into two highly soluble carbazole based alternating copolymers, poly[2,7‐(9‐(1′‐octylnonyl)‐9H‐carbazole)‐alt‐5,5‐(4′,7′‐di(thien‐2‐yl)‐2H‐benzimidazole‐2′‐spirocyclohexane)] (PCDTCHBI) and poly[2,7‐(9‐(1′‐octylnonyl)‐9H‐carbazole)‐alt‐5,5‐(4′,7′‐di(thien‐2‐yl)‐2H‐benzimidazole‐2′‐spiro‐4′′‐((2′′′‐ethylhexyl)oxy)‐cyclohexane)] (PCDTEHOCHBI) for photovoltaic application. These alternating copolymers show low‐band gap properties caused by internal charge transfer from an electron‐rich unit to an electron‐deficient moiety. HOMO and LUMO levels are –5.53 and –3.86 eV for PCDTCHBI, and –5.49 and –3.84 eV for PCDTEHOCHBI, respectively. Optical band gaps of PCDTCHBI and PCDTEHOCHBI are 1.67 and 1.65 eV, respectively. The new carbazole based the 2H‐benzimidazole polymers show 0.11–0.13 eV lower values of band gaps as compared to that of carbazole based benzothiadiazole polymer, poly[N‐9′‐heptadecanyl‐2,7‐carbazole‐alt‐5,5‐(4′,7′‐di‐2‐thienyl‐2′,1′,3′‐benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT), while keeping nearly the same deep HOMO levels. The power conversion efficiencies of PCDTCHBI and PCDTEHOCHBI blended with [6,6]phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) are 1.03 and 1.15%, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Thermally stable silarylene-1,3,4-oxadiazole polymers

The effects of incorporating a p-phenylene- (or m-phenylene)-1,3,4-oxadiazole fragment into the backbone of poly[1,4-phenylene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-2,5-(1,3,4-oxadiazole)], which was developed by the authors, was investigated. Bis[(p-carbohydrazidophenyl)]diphenylsilane was copolymerized with dipentachlorophenyl terephthalate or isophthalate to produce the prepolymers poly[N-(p-diphenylsilylbenzoyl)-N′N″-(terephthaloyl)-N″′-(p-benzoyl)dihydrazide] and poly[N-(p-diphenylsilylbenzoyl)-N′,-N″-(isophthaloyl)-N″′-p-(benzoyl) dihydrazide], respectively. The polyhydrazides were converted by thermal dehydration into poly[1,4-phenylene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl)-1,4-phenylene-2,5-(1,3,4-oxadiazole)] and poly[1,4-phenyl-ene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl)-1,3,4-(oxadiazole)]. The new polymers were soluble in organic solvents. Films cast from these solutions exhibited good adhesion to glass and metal surfaces. Thermal analysis showed that the heat stability of all these polymers was about the same and that they were resistant to decomposition when heated in air to about 400°C. The results also indicated that these polymers were somewhat less heat-resistant than samples of poly-[1,4-phenylene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-2,5-]1,3,4-(oxadiazole) synthesized from bis(p-carbohydrazidophenyl)diphenylsilane and bis-(p-carbopentachlorophenoxy-phenyl)diphenylsilane.     

Polyaromatic pyrazines: Synthesis and thermogravimetric analysis

The syntheses of five polyaromatic pyrazine polymers are described. These polymers were synthesized by the condensation of bis-α-haloaromatic ketones with ammonia in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solvent in the presence of air or peroxides. The condensation of bis-p-(α-bromoacetyl)benzene (IIIa), bis-p,p′-(α-chloroacetyl)biphenyl (IIIb) bis-p,p′-(α-chloroacetyl)diphenyl ether (IIIc), bis-p,p′-(α-chloroacetyl)diphenylmethane (IIId), and α,α′-dibenzoyl-α,α′-dibromo-p-xylene (V) under these reaction conditions gave poly[2,5-(1,4-phenylene)pyrazine] (IVa), poly[2,5-(4,4′-biphenylene)-pyrazine] (IVb), poly[2,5-(4,4′-oxydiphenylene)pyrazine] (IVc), poly[2,5-(4,4′-methylenediphenylene)pyrazine] (IVd), and poly[2,5-(1,4-phenylene)-3,6-diphenylpyrazine] (VI), respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of these polymers showed them to be thermally stable up to the temperature range of 450–550°C in air for short periods of time. The inherent viscosities of these polymers ranged from 0.18 to 1.30.     

Functional polymers and sequential copolymers by phase transfer catalysis. 18. Synthesis and characterization of α,ω-bis(2,6-dimethylphenol)–poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and α,ω-bis(vinylbenzyl)–poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) oligomers

A novel and convenient synthetic method for the preparation of α,ω-bis(2,6-dimethylphenol)–poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO-2OH) is presented. It is based on the oxidative copolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol (DMP) with 2,2′-di(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl propane) (TMBPA) in a mixture of water–methanol or chlorobenzene–methanol. By using a 4/1 mole ratio of DMP to TMBPA and different solvent mixtures, it was possible to obtain bifunctional PPO-2OHs with number average molecular weights between 1000 and 5000. A phase-transfer-catalyzed etherification of PPO-2OH chain ends with a mixture of m- and p-chloromethylstyrene was used to synthesize α,ω-bis(vinylbenzyl)-poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)s (PPO-2VBs). The thermal polymerization of the PPO-2VBs was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, and has demonstrated a very high thermal reactivity for this new class of reactive oligomers.     

Thermal degradation of a polyphenylimide-quinoxaline in air and under vacuum

Three samples of poly{2,2′-[N,N′-bis(1,4-phenylene)benzophenone-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylimide-6,6′-bis(3-phenyl-quinoxaline)]} (PPIQ), were prepared, differing in molecular weights and polymer chain endings. Their thermal degradation in vacuo and in air was determined by isothermal weight loss measurements. As in the case of poly-[2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)-6,6′-bis(3-phenylquinoxaline)] (PPQ), the temperature coefficients of thermal degradation in air were independent of molecular weight. However, in contrast, the temperature coefficients were independent of the type of polymer endgroups. It is, therefore, concluded that, contrary to amino-terminated PPQ's, polymer chain-end unzipping of PPIQ is of minor importance during thermal-oxidative degradation.     

1-D and 2-D coordination polymers of lead(II) thiocyanate with substituted 2,2′-bipyridine ligand

Two lead(II)-thiocyanato coordination polymers with 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5,5′-dm-2,2′-bpy) and 4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bipyridine (4,4′-dmo-2,2′-bpy) as chelating ligands were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, thermal behavior, and X-ray crystallography. These complexes have formulas [Pb(5,5′-dm-2,2′-bpy)(NCS)₂] _n (1) and [Pb(4,4′-dmo-2,2′-bpy)(NCS)₂] _n (2). The coordination numbers of Pb^II in 1 and 2 are four, PbN₄, with “stereo-chemically active” electron pairs and hemidirected coordination spheres. Considering Pb···S as weak bonds, 1 and 2 are 1- and 2-D coordination polymers, respectively. The supramolecular features in these complexes are guided/controlled by weak directional intermolecular interactions.