Preparation and X-ray characterization of two-coordinate Cu(I) complex of aliphatic thiolato ligand: Effect of steric bulk on coordination features

We have synthesized in a single-step procedure from available copper(I) precursor at RT two Cu(I) thiolato clusters of the formula [Cu₄(μ-SCH(CH₃)₂)₆]²⁻ and [Cu₅(μ-SC(CH₃)₃)₆]⁻ as revealed by X-ray crystallography, where increased steric bulk leads to a bigger cage with some two-coordinate metal centers. In addition, we identified a mononuclear two coordinate thiolato complex with the bulkier ligand, of the formula NEt₄[Cu(SC(CH₃)₃)₂]. This is only the second example of such a complex of an aliphatic ligand that is structurally characterized. The X-ray structure reveals an S–Cu–S angle of 176.7–179.5°, with Cu–S distances of 2.14 Å.     

Preparation, properties, and reactions of metal-containing heterocycles: Part CV. Synthesis and structure of polyoxadiphosphaplatinaferrocenophanes

A series of novel heterobimetallic crown ether-like polyoxadiphosphaplatinaferrocenophanes cis-[1,1′-Fc(CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_nCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂]PtCl₂ (n=1–3) (4a–c) was synthesized in good yield by cyclization of the bis(phosphine) ligands 1,1′-Fc(CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_nCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂ (n=1–3) (3a–c) and (PhCN)₂PtCl₂ under high dilution conditions in CH₂Cl₂. The bisphosphines 3a–c are obtained by reaction of the corresponding diols 1,1′-Fc(CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_nCH₂CH₂OH)₂ (n=1–3) (1a–c) with: (i) CH₃SO₂Cl in CH₂Cl₂ and (ii) LiPPh₂ in THF. Although the X-ray crystal structure of 4a shows that the cavity is large enough for the encapsulation of small metal cations, inclusion experiments of 4a–c with Group 1 cations, and Mg²⁺, or NH₄⁺ in solution applying NMR titration and cyclovoltammetric methods reveal no evidence for the formation of host–guest complexes for 4a,b. In the case of 4c only the addition of Na⁺ or K⁺ leads to an insignificant effect.     

Highly stereoselective reduction of methyl ketone complexes of the chiral Lewis acid [(η-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)] by K(s-C4H9)3BH; synthesis of optically active secondary alcohols and derivatives

Reaction of optically active ketone complexes (+)-(R)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)-(PPh₃)(η¹-O=C(R)(CH₃)]⁺ BF₄⁻ (R = CH₂CH₃, CH(CH₃)₂m C(CH₃)₃, C₆H₅) with K(s-C₄H₉)₃BH gives alkoxide complexes (+)-(RS)-(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)-(OCH(R)CH₃) (73–90%) in 80–98% de. The alkoxide ligand is then converted to Mosher esters (93–99%) of 79–98% de.     

Interaction of antitumor drug Sn(CH3)2Cl2 with DNA and RNA

Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ exerts its antitumor activity in a specific way. Unlike anticancer cis-Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂ drug which binds strongly to the nitrogen atoms of DNA bases, Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ shows no major affinity towards base binding. Thus, the mechanism of action by which tinorganometallic compounds exert antitumor activity would be different from that of the cisplatin drug. The aim of this study was to examine the binding of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ with calf thymus DNA and yeast RNA in aqueous solutions at pH 7.1–6.6 with constant concentrations of DNA and RNA and various molar ratios of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/DNA (phosphate) and Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/RNA of 1/40, 1/20, 1/10, 1/5. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–visible difference spectroscopic methods were used to determine the Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ binding mode, binding constant, sequence selectivity and structural variations of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/DNA and Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/RNA complexes in aqueous solution. Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ hydrolyzes in water to give Sn(CH₃)₂(OH)₂ and [Sn(CH₃)₂(OH)(H₂O)_n]⁺ species. Spectroscopic evidence showed that interaction occurred mainly through (CH₃)₂Sn(IV) hydroxide and polynucleotide backbone phosphate group with overall binding constant of K(Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂–DNA)=1.47×10⁵ M⁻¹ and K(Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂–RNA)=7.33×10⁵ M⁻¹. Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ induced no biopolymer conformational changes with DNA remaining in the B-family structure and RNA in A-conformation upon drug complexation.     

Tripodal lipophilic ionophores: synthesis, cation binding and transport through liquid membranes

New C₃-symmetric lipophilic tripodal ionophores, Et(CH₂OCH₂COR)₃; R=NMePh (1), R=NEtPh (2), R=piperidyl (3), have been prepared and their binding abilities for alkali and alkaline earth metal cations evaluated by extraction equilibrium and cation transport through bulk liquid membranes. Experiments show that these ionophores have considerable potential for transporting lithium, sodium and calcium ions relative to potassium and magnesium ions. The cation transport rates by ionophores 1 and 2 decrease in the order Li⁺>Na⁺>Ca²⁺>Ba²⁺>K⁺>Mg²⁺, and the selectivities of Li⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/K⁺ and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ are 6.47–7.24, 6.05–6.19 and 9.39–16.13, respectively. The extraction selectivity sequences of the ionophores 1 and 2 are in agreement with the descending order of the cation transport rate, and the complexation constants in chloroform phase were estimated.     

Metal-ion sensing and aggregation studies on reactive phthalocyanines bearing soft-metal receptor moieties; synthesis, spectroscopy and electrochemistry

Tetrasubstituted metal-free {2H[Pc(S(CH₂)₆OCOC₄H₃S)₄]} and copperphthalocyanine {Cu[Pc(S(CH₂)₆OCOC₄H₃S)₄]}, bearing thiophene-2-carboxylate-hexylthio moieties, have been prepared as isomeric mixtures via cyclo-tetramerization. Both new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, MS (Maldi-TOF) and UV–Vis spectral data. The cation binding abilities of the functional phthalocyanines with Ag^I, Pd^II, Hg^II, Pb^II and Cd^II are evaluated by a monomer–oligomer formation technique with UV–Vis spectroscopy. Spectroscopic properties of the complexes were affected strongly by the electron-donating sulfanyl units on the periphery. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry studies show that both compounds give up to three ligand-based reduction processes and one ligand-based oxidation process having diffusion-controlled one-electron transfer properties.     

Construction of a nano-rectangular Zn-Nd complex with near-infrared luminescent response towards metal ions

One 6-metal Zn-Nd complex[Zn₂Nd₄L₂(OAc)₁₀(OH)₂(CH₃OH)₂](1)with Schiff base ligand bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)ethylene-1,2-phenylenediamine(H₂L)was constructed,and it has nanoscale rectangular structure(8×11×28 A).Excited by ligand-centered absorption bands,1 shows NIRemission of Nd³⁺ion.Interestingly,1 exhibits lanthanide luminescent response towards metal ions,especially to alkali metal ions(Li⁺,Na⁺ and K⁺)at ppm level.     

Mehrfachbindungen zwischen Hauptgruppenelementen und Übergangsmetallen : XLV. Eigenschaften und Reaktionsverhalten von Hydrogenchalkogenid-Komplexen der Metalle Chrom, Molybdän und Wolfram

Hydrogensulfido and hydrogenselenido complexes of general composition (η⁵-C₅R₅(CO)3M(EH) (R = H, CH₃; M = Cr, Mo, W; E = S, Se) react at the EH functions by deprotonation, bimolecular elimination of H₂E, or by loss of the chalcogen atoms E. Reactions with Lewis-acidic complex cations such as [((η⁵-C₅R₅)(CO)₃M]⁺ (R = H, CH₃; M = Mo, W) are useful for the synthesis of chalcogen bridged compounds (μ-E)[(η⁵-C₅R₅)(CO)₃M]₂. The heterodinuclear chalcogen bridge complexes thus generated form metathesis equilibria with their corresponding homodinuclear systems.     

New temperature effect on tunneling reaction in hydrogen, alkane, and ethanol in the solid phase

Rate constants for the tunneling reaction (HD + D → h + D₂) in solid HD increase steeply with increasing temperature above 5 K, while they are almost constant below 4.2 K. The apparent activation energy for the tunneling reaction above 5 K is 95 K, which is consistent with the energy (91–112 K) for vacancy formation in solid hydrogen. The results above 5 K were explained by the model that the tunneling reaction was accelerated by a local motion of hydrogen molecules and hydrogen atoms. The model of the tunneling reaction assisted by the local motion of the reactans and products was applied to the temperature dependence of the proton-transfer tunneling reaction (C₆H₆⁻ + C₂H₅OH → C₆H₇ + C₂H₅O⁻) in solid ethanol, the tunneling elimination of H₂ molecule of H₂ molecule ((CH₃)₂ CHCH(CH₃)₂⁺ → (CH₃)₂ C = C(CH₃)₂⁺ + H₂) in solid 2,3-dimethylbutane, and the selective tunneling reaction of H atoms in solid neo-C₅H₁₂-alkane mixtures.     

Interaction of heterocyclic thioamides with tellurium(II) and tellurium(IV). Syntheses and crystal structures of bis[2-(2-thioxo-1,3- thiazolidin-3-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3- thiazolium]hexabromotellurate(IV) and tris(1- methylimidazole-2-(3H)-thione)tellurium(II) bromide

Reaction of 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione with tellurium(IV) in hydrobromic acid medium gave the hexabromotellurate, [C₆H₉N₂S₃]₂²⁺[Te^IVBr₆]²⁻ (3). Reaction of 1-methylimidazoline-2-(3H)-thione (L″) with tellurium(IV), in hydrobromic acid medium, gave the mixed-ligand tellurium(II) complex [Te^IIL″₃Br]⁺Br⁻ (4). The structures of [C₆H₉N₂S₃]₂²⁺[Te^IVBr₆]²⁻ (3) and [Te^IIL″₃Br]⁺Br⁻ were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. In 3 the unit cell contains [TeBr₆]²⁻ anions and two [C₆H₉N₂S₃]⁺ cations. There is no direct bonding between the metal atom and the cations. In the anion only slight angular deviations from the perfect octahedral geometry are observed. The lone pair of electrons on tellurium(IV) is found to be stereochemically inert. In the cation the two five-membered heterocyclic rings adopt different conformations. In complex 4, in the solid state, the planar [Te^IIL″₃Br]⁺ cation and Br⁻ anion are held together by ionic interactions. In the cation, L″ is bonded to the central tellurium atom through the sulphur atom.     

Ab initio and DFT computer studies of complexes of trimethylphosphine and products of substituted phosphonium cations with hydroxide, chloride and fluoride anions: Phosphorus analogues of choline and acetylcholine

Theoretical calculations (DFT, MP2) are reported for up to four sets of reaction products of trimethylphosphine, (CH₃)₃P, each with H₂O, HCl and HF together with DFT calculations on up to three sets of reaction products of substituted phosphonium cations, (CH₃)₃P–R⁺. These products comprise (a) P(III) normal complexes (CH₃)₃PHY, (b) P(IV) ‘reverse’ complexes Y(H–CH₂)₃P–R, (c) P(IV) ylidic complexes YHCH₂(CH₃)₂P–R and (d) P(V) covalent compounds Y–P(CH₃)₃–R for Y=HO, Cl and F and R=H, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₂H₄OH and C₂H₄OC:OCH₃. Calculations are carried out at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level in all cases and also at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p) level for systems in which R=H. Minimum energy structures are determined for predicted complexes or structures and geometrical properties, harmonic vibrations and BSSE corrected binding energies are reported and compared with the limited experimental information available. Potential energy scans predict equilibria between covalent trigonal bipyramidal P(V) forms and reverse complexes comprising hydrogen bonded or ion pair, tetrahedral P(IV) forms separated by low potential energy barriers. Similar scans are also reported for equilibria between reverse complexes and ylidic complexes for Y=OH and R=CH₃, C₂H₅, C₂H₄OH and C₂H₄OC:OCH₃. Corrected binding energies, structures and values of harmonic modes are discussed in relation to bonding The names ‘pholine’ and ‘acetylpholine’ are suggested for phosphorus analogues to choline and acetylcholine.     

Packing atomic metal cations with C60: Mass spectrometric observation of M(C60)n with M = Sr and Mo and n = 0–4

The atomic cations of Sr and Mo have been observed to add sequentially up to four molecules of C₆₀ in helium at 0.35 Torr and room temperature in the flow tube of a modified inductively coupled plasma/selected-ion flow tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. The available center-of-mass energy in collision-induced dissociation experiments of approximately 1.3 eV failed to remove C₆₀ from M⁺(C₆₀)₄. A structure is proposed for M⁺(C₆₀)₄ cations in which the bonding involves η⁶ interaction of the metal with the C₆₀ ligands and η²-to-η² interactions between the C₆₀ ligands.     

Crystal Structure, Nano-particle Morphology and Interaction with ATP of [ NH3 CH2 CH（ NH2 ） CH3 ]2 [ M（ Ⅵ ） O2 （ OC6 H4 O）2 ] （M = Mo0. 6 W0. 4 ） and Its Activity to Promote DNA Cleavage

The title complex [NH_3CH_2CH(NH_2)CH_3]_2 [M(Ⅵ)O_2(OC_6H_4O)_2](M= Mo_(0.6)W_(0.4))was synthesized via a simple solution-phase chemical route.The determination of single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the title compound is crystallized in a monoclinic system with P2(1)/n space group,a=1.0913(10)nm,b=1.0442(10)nm,c=1.8842(19)nm,α=90°,β=96.530(17)°,γ=90°,Z=4,and V=2.133(4)nm3.The mononuclear anionic unit [M(Ⅵ)O2(OC6H4O)2]2-displays chiral pseudo-octahedral [MO_6] coordination geometry and is linked by chiral cations via hydrogen bond and π…π stacking interaction.The transmission electron microscopy images show that the title complex is comprised of nano-particles with diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nm.The NMR study shows the 1H downfield chemical shifts of [NH_3CHaHbCH(NH_2)CH_3] cations in the title complex when it is mixed with adenosine-triphosphate(ATP),and the chemical shift difference between Ha and Hb is increased greatly,and most of the catecholate ligands dissociate from the central metal atoms.The DNA cleavage activity experiment reveals that DNA cleavage promoted by the title complex is lower than that by Na_2MoO_4 which possesses antitumor pro-perty,but higher than that by Na_2WO_4.     

Synthese und reaktivität von dienylmetall-verbindungen : XXVII. Ein einfacher weg zur synthese von cyclopentadienylcobalt(III)-dikationen

CpCo(CO)₂ is oxidised by [Cp₂Fe]BF₄ (Cp = C₅H₅) in the presence of neutral ligands L to give the dications [CpCoL₃]²⁺ (L = SMe₂, S(n-C₄H₉)₂, PMe₃, C₅H₅N, MeCN; Me = CH₃). In [CpCo(SMe₂)₃]²⁺, sulfane ligands are substituted by neutral ligands L, L---L and L---L---L, to give the complexes [CpCoL₃]²⁺ (L = SeMe₂, TeMe₂, PMe₃, P(OMe)₃, AsMe₃, SbMe₃, t-C₄H₉NC, C₅H₅N, MeCN), [Cp-Co(L---L)SMe₂]²⁺ (L---L = R₂P(CH₂)_nPR₂, n = 1, 2, R = C₆H₅; bipyridine, o-phenanthroline, neocuproin) and [CpCo(L---L---L)]²⁺ (L---L---L = RP(CH₂CH₂PR₂)₂, R = C₆H₅). The dications react with iodide resulting in the monocations [CpCoL₂I]⁺ and [CpCo(L---L)I]⁺. Azacobaltocinium cations [CpCo(C₄R₂H₂N)]⁺ (R = H, CH₃) are obtained by reaction of [CpCo(SMe₂)₃]²⁺ with metal pyrrolides.     

Group 3 and 4 metal alkyl and hydrido complexes containing a linked amido-cyclopentadienyl ligand: “constrained geometry” polymerization catalysts for nonpolar and polar monomers

In order to understand the nature of the putative cationic 12-electron species [M(η⁵:η¹-C₅R₄SiMe₂NR′)R″]⁺ of titanium catalysts supported by a linked amido-cyclopentadienyl ligand, several derivatives with different cyclopentadienyl C₅R₄ and amido substituents R′ were studied systematically. The use of tridentate variants (C₅R₄SiMe₂NCH₂CH₂X)²⁻ (C₅R₄=C₅Me₄, C₅H₄, C₅H₃^tBu; X=OMe, SMe, NMe₂) allowed the NMR spectroscopic observation of the titanium benzyl cations [Ti(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄SiMe₂NCH₂CH₂X)(CH₂Ph)]⁺. Isoelectronic neutral rare earth metal complexes [Ln(η⁵:η¹-C₅R₄SiMe₂NR′)R″] can be expected to be active for polymerization. To arrive at neutral 12-electron hydride and alkyl species of the rare earth metals, we employed a lanthanide tris(alkyl) complex [Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂] (Ln=Y, Lu, Yb, Er, Tb), which allows the facile synthesis of the linked amido-cyclopentadienyl complex [Ln(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄SiMe₂NCMe₃)(CH₂SiMe₃)(THF)]. Hydrogenolysis of the linked amido-cyclopentadienyl alkyl complex leads to the dimeric hydrido complex [Ln(η⁵:η¹-C₅Me₄SiMe₂NCMe₃)(THF)(μ-H)]₂. These complexes are single-site, single-component catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene and a variety of polar monomers such as acrylates and acrylonitrile. Nonpolar monomers such as -olefins and styrene, in contrast, give isolable mono-insertion products which allow detailed studies of the initiation process.     

Tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes of phosphine-derivatized amines, amino acids and a model peptide: structures, solution behavior and cytotoxicity

Modified Mannich reactions of amines, amino acids and a model peptide with Ph₂PH and CH₂O gave bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)amines (Ph₂PCH₂)₂NR [R=Ph (1), CH₂CH₂OH (2), CH₂COOCH₂Ph (3), CH₂CONHCH₂COOCH₂Ph (4), CH₂COOH (5)] and (Ph₂PCH₂)₂NCH₂CH₂N(CH₂PPh₂)₂ (6). Reaction with [ReBr₃(CO)₃]²⁻ under mild conditions led to [ReBr(CO)₃]{(Ph₂PCH₂)₂NR} [R=Ph (7), CH₂CH₂OH (8), CH₂COOCH₂Ph (9), CH₂CONHCH₂COOCH₂Ph (10), CH₂COOH (11)] and [ReBr(CO)₃(Ph₂PCH₂)₂NCH₂]₂ (12). All new complexes have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and for 7, 9 and 10, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Electrospray mass spectrometric studies show that the rhenium–phosphine chelates are very stable, especially in neutral methanolic solution. Hydrolysis of the ester and amide linkages slowly occur in acidic and basic solutions over several weeks; displacement of the bromide ligand also occurs in basic medium. Cytotoxicity testing of 7–10 and 12 showed that all the complexes are active against specific tumor cell lines, especially MCF-7 breast cancer and HeLa-S³ suspended uterine carcinoma.     

Vibrational spectrum of [(CD3)3S]I and normal coordinate calculations for [(CH3)3S] and [(CD3)3S] cations

IR (4000-30 cm⁻¹) and Raman (4000-0 cm⁻) spectra of [(CD₃)₃S]I have been observed, together with those of [(CH₃)₃S]I. By assuming a C_3v molecular symmetry for the cations [(CH₃)₃S]⁺ and [(CD₃)₃S]⁺, all the active fundamentals of [(CD₃)₃s]⁺ have been assigned and normal coordinate calculations have been carried out by a symmetry force field for [(CH₃)₃S]⁺ and [(CD₃)₃S]⁺. The strength of the S---C and C---H bonds in the compound has been compared with that in dimethyl sulfide by using their valence stretching force constants.     

Formation, solution structure and reactivity of alkylperoxo complexes of titanium

A detailed in situ ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectroscopic characterization of the following families of alkylperoxo complexes of titanium is presented: Ti(η²-OOtBu)_n(OiPr)_4−n, where n = 1–4; binuclear complexes [(iPrO)₃Ti(μ-OiPr)₂Ti(OiPr)₂(η²-OOtBu)] and [(η²-OOtBu)(iPrO)₂Ti(μ-OiPr)₂Ti(OiPr)₂(η²-OOtBu)]; complexes with β-diketonato ligands: Ti(LL)₂(OEt)(η²-OOtBu), Ti(LL)₂(OiPr)(η²-OOtBu), Ti(LL)₂(η²-OOtBu)₂, Ti(LL)₂(OtBu)(η¹-OOtBu), where HLL = acetylacetone, dipivaloylmethane. These alkylperoxo complexes could not be isolated due to their instability and were studied in situ at low temperatures. Whereas the side-on (η²) coordination mode of tert-butylperoxo ligand is generally preferable, the end-on (η¹) coordination caused by spatial hindrance from surrounding bulky ligands is found in two cases. The quantitative data on the reactivity of alkylperoxo complexes found towards sulfides and alkenes were obtained. The system TiO(acac)₂/tBuOOH in C₆H₆ was reinvestigated using ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the complex Ti(acac)₂{CH₃C(O)(OOtBu)COO} actually formed in this system was elucidated. Four types of titanium(IV) alkylperoxo complexes were detected in the Sharpless–Katsuki catalytic system using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis, characterization of new Rh---Co mixed-metal clusters and reactions of clusters containing [Rh2Co2C2] core with 1-alkynes and/or carbon monoxide

Six new cluster derivatives [Rh₂Co₂(CO)₆(μ-CO)₄(μ₄,η²-HCCR)] (R=FeCp₂ 1, CH₂OH 2, (CH₃O)C₁₀H₆CH(CH₃)COOCH₂CCH 3) and [RhCo₃(CO)₆(μ-CO)₄(μ₄,η²-HCCR)] (R=FeCp₂ 4, CH₂OH 5, (CH₃O)C₁₀H₆CH(CH₃)COOCH₂CCH 6) were obtained by the reactions of [Rh₂Co₂(CO)₁₂] and [RhCo₃(CO)₁₂] with substituted 1-alkyne ligands HCCR [R=FeCp₂ 7, CH₂OH 8, (CH₃O)C₁₀H₆CH(CH₃) COOCH₂CCH 9] in n-hexane at room temperature, respectively. Alkynes insert into the Co---Co bond of the tetranuclear clusters to give butterfly clusters. [Rh₂Co₂(CO)₆(μ-CO)₄(μ₄,η²-HCCFeCp₂)] (1) was characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Reactions of 1, 2 with 7, 8 and ambient pressure of carbon monoxide at 25 °C gave two known cluster complexes [Co₂(CO)₆(μ₂, η²-HCCR)] (R=FeCp₂ 10, CH₂OH 11), respectively. All clusters were characterized by element analysis, IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy.     

3D H-bonding networks self-assembly from pyridinium derivatives and bis(maleonitriledithiolato)zincate(II)

The two ion-pair complexes, [pyH]₂[Zn(mnt)₂] (1) and [4,4′-bipyH₂]-[Zn(mnt)₂] (2), were synthesized, where mnt²⁻ denotes maleonitriledithiolate, and [pyH]⁺, [4,4′-bipyH₂]²⁺ represent pyridinium and diprotonated 4,4′-bipyridinium, respectively. Their single crystal structures show that there are strong bifurcated H-bonding interactions between the cations of the pyridinium derivative and the [Zn(mnt)₂]²⁻ anions in both 1 and 2. The bifurcated H-bonding interactions between the N–H of the pyridiniums and the CN groups of the mnt²⁻ ligands give rise to a 2D layered H-bonding network, the adjacent layers come together in such way as mutual embrace to give a tight pack, thus 2D hydrogen-bonding sheets further develop into 3D H-bonding networks through weak C–HS and ππ stacking interactions in 1. As for 2, the cations and anions connect into several types of H-bonding macrorings ([2+2], [3+3] and [4+4]), these H-bonding macrorings fuse to extend into 2D layered structure, the interpenetration between [3+3] and [4+4] type H-bonding macrorings in the adjacent layers give further rise to novel 3D extended H-bonding networks, in which there are clearly parallel stacks of cations and the chelate rings of anions.