Reversible Phase Transformation and Mechanochromic Luminescence of ZnII‐Dipyridylamide‐Based Coordination Frameworks

A 1D double‐zigzag framework, {[Zn(paps)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 1 ; paps=N,N′‐bis(pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl thioether), was synthesized by the reaction of Zn(ClO₄)₂ with paps. However, a similar reaction, except that dry solvents were used, led to the formation of a novel 2D polyrotaxane framework, [Zn(paps)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 2 ). This difference relies on the fact that water coordinates to the Zn^II ion in 1 , but ClO₄^? ion coordination is found in 2 . Notably, the structures can be interconverted by heating and grinding in the presence of moisture, and such a structural transformation can also be proven experimentally by powder and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The related N,N′‐bis‐ (pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (papo) and N,N′‐(methylenedi‐para‐phenylene)bispyridine‐4‐carboxamide (papc) ligands were reacted with Zn^II ions as well. When a similar reaction was performed with dry solvents, except that papo was used instead of paps, the product mixture contained mononuclear [Zn(papo)(CH₃OH)₄](ClO₄)₂ ( 5 ) and the polyrotaxane [Zn(papo)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 4 ). From the powder XRD data, grinding this mixture in the presence of moisture resulted in total conversion to the pure double‐zigzag {[Zn(papo)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 3 ) immediately. Upon heating 3 , the polyrotaxane framework of 4 was recovered. The double‐zigzag {[Zn(papc)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 6 ) and polyrotaxane [Zn(papc)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 7 ) were synthesized in a similar reaction. Although upon heating the double‐zigzag 6 undergoes structural transformation to give the polyrotaxane 7 , grinding solid 7 in the presence of moisture does not lead to the formation of 6 . Significantly, the bright emissions for double‐zigzag frameworks of 1 and 3 and weak ones for polyrotaxane frameworks of 2 and 4 also show interesting mechanochromic luminescence.     

Coordination polymers of CdII and PbII derived from bipyridine–glycoluril: influence of metal‐ion size and counter‐ions

Two new one‐dimensional (1D) coordination polymers (CPs), namely catena‐poly[[[aquacadmium(II)]‐bis(μ‐4b,5,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4b,7a‐epiminomethanoimino‐6H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline‐6,13‐dione)] bis(perchlorate) dihydrate], {[Cd(C₁₄H₁₀N₆O₂)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n or {[Cd(BPG)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n, 1 , and catena‐poly[[lead(II)‐bis(μ‐4b,5,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4b,7a‐epiminomethanoimino‐6H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline‐6,13‐dione)] bis(perchlorate) dihydrate], {[Pb(C₁₄H₁₀N₆O₂)₂](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n or {[Pb(BPG)₂](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n, 2 , have been synthesized using bipyridine–glycoluril (BPG; systematic name: 4b,5,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4b,7a‐epiminomethanoimino‐6H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline‐6,13‐dione), a urea‐fused tecton, in a mixed‐solvent system. The Cd^II ion in 1 is heptacoordinated and the Pb^II ion in 2 is hexacoordinated, with the Cd^II ion adopting a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry and the Pb^II ion adopting a distorted octahedral geometry. Both CPs form infinite linear chain structures which are hydrogen bonded to each other leading to the formation of three‐dimensional supramolecular network structures. Topological analysis of CPs 1 and 2 reveals that the structures exhibit 1D chain‐like arrangements in an AB–AB sequence and shows platonic uniform 2‐connected uninodal topologies. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of a series of structures based on the BPG ligand indicates that the size of the metal ion and the types of counter‐ions used have a great influence on the resulting frameworks and properties.     

Homoleptic Zinc(II) Complexes Based on 4′‐(2‐Thienyl)‐terpyridine: Preparation,Structures, and Properties

The homoleptic complexes Zn^II(4′‐(2‐(5‐R‐thienyl))‐terpyridine)₂(ClO₄)₂ [R = hydrogen ( 1 ), bromo ( 2 ), methyl ( 3 ), and methoxy ( 4 )] were prepared. Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, and further characterized by high resolution mass, infrared spectra (IR), and elemental analyses. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that Zn^II ions in the complexes are both six‐coordinate with N₆ coordination sphere, displaying distorted octahedral arrangements. The absorption and emission spectra of the homoleptic Zn^II complexes were investigated and compared to those of the parent complex Zn^II(4′‐(2‐thienyl))‐terpyridine)₂(ClO₄)₂. The UV/Vis absorption spectra showed that the complexes all exhibit strong absorption component in UV region, moreover, complex 4 has an absorption component in the visible region. Thus, the photocatalytic activities of the complexes in degradation of organic dyes were investigated under UV and visible irradiation.     

Zinc(II) Complexes with 1H‐Imidazol‐4‐yl‐Containing Polyamine Ligand

The protonation and Zn^II/Cu^II complexation constants of tripodal polyamine ligand N¹‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐N¹‐(1H‐imidazol‐4‐ylmethyl)‐ethane‐1,2‐diamine (HL) were determined by potentiometric titration. Three new compounds, i.e. [H₃(HL)](ClO₄)₃ ( 5 ), [Zn(HL)Cl](ClO₄) ( 6 ) and {[Zn(L)](ClO₄)}_n ( 7 ) were obtained by reactions of HL · 4HCl with Zn(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O under different reaction pH, and they were compared with the corresponding Cu^II complexes reported previously. The results indicate that the reaction pH and metal ions have remarkable influence on the formation and structure of the complexes.     

Two 2,5‐bis(2‐pyridinyl)‐1,3,4‐oxa­diazo­le–metal complexes (M = Cu and Ni)

The reaction of the diazine ligand 3,5‐bis(2‐pyridinyl)‐1,3,4‐oxa­diazole (pod, C₁₂H₈N₄O), with Cu(CF₃SO₃)₂ or Ni(ClO₄)₂ afforded the title complexes di­aqua­bis­[3,5‐bis(2‐pyridinyl)‐1,3,4‐oxa­diazole‐N²,N³]copper(II) bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sul­fon­ate), [Cu(pod)₂(H₂O)₂](CF₃SO₃)₂, and di­aqua­bis­[3,5‐bis(2‐pyridinyl)‐1,3,4‐oxa­diazo­le‐N²,N³]­nickel(II) diperchlorate, [Ni(pod)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂. Both complexes present a crystallographically centrosymmetric mononuclear cation structure which consists of a six‐coordinated Cu^II or Ni^II ion with two pod mol­ecules acting as bidentate ligands and two axially coordinated water mol­ecules.     

μ‐{N,N′‐Bis[2‐(dimethyl­amino)ethyl]oxamidato(2–)}‐1κ2O,O′:2κ4N,N′,N′′,N′′′‐bis­(4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐1κ2N,N′)dinickel(II) bis­(perchlorate)

In the crystal structure of the title complex, [Ni₂(C₁₀H₂₀N₄O₂)(C₁₂H₁₂N₂)₂](ClO₄)₂ or [Ni(dmaeoxd)Ni(dmbp)₂](ClO₄)₂ {H₂dmaeoxd is N,N′‐bis­[2‐(dimethyl­amino)ethyl]oxamide and dmbp is 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine}, the deprotonated dmaeoxd²⁻ ligand is in a cis conformation and bridges two Ni^II atoms, one of which is located in a slightly distorted square‐planar environment, while the other is in an irregular octa­hedral environment. The cation is located on a twofold symmetry axis running through both Ni atoms. The dmaeoxd²⁻ ligands inter­act with each other via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π inter­actions, which results in an extended chain along the c axis.     

A novel one‐dimensional double‐chain‐like ZnII coordination polymer: poly[bis(1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole‐κN3)tris(μ‐cyanido‐κ2C:N)(cyanido‐κC)disilver(I)zinc(II)]

One of most interesting systems of coordination polymers constructed from the first‐row transition metals is the porous Zn^II coordination polymer system, but the numbers of such polymers containing N‐donor linkers are still limited. The title double‐chain‐like Zn^II coordination polymer, [Ag₂Zn(CN)₄(C₁₀H₁₀N₂)₂]_n, presents a one‐dimensional linear coordination polymer structure in which Zn^II ions are linked by bridging anionic dicyanidoargentate(I) units along the crystallographic b axis and each Zn^II ion is additionally coordinated by a terminal dicyanidoargentate(I) unit and two terminal 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole (BZI) ligands, giving a five‐coordinated Zn^II ion. Interestingly, there are strong intermolecular Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between terminal and bridging dicyanidoargentate(I) units and C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands of adjacent one‐dimensional linear chains, providing a one‐dimensional linear double‐chain‐like structure. The supramolecular three‐dimensional framework is stabilized by C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands and by Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between adjacent double chains. The photoluminescence properties have been studied.     

Cadmium(II) thio‐ and selenocyanate complexes of 3,3′‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐1,1′‐biadamantane,a ligand designed with an `extended nanodiamond' aliphatic platform

In the structures of the Cd^II pseudohalide coordination polymer poly[[diaquabis[μ₂‐3,3′‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐1,1′‐biadamantane‐κ²N¹:N^1′]cadmium(II)] dithiocyanate dihydrate], {[Cd(C₂₄H₃₂N₆)₂(H₂O)₂](NCS)₂·2H₂O}_n, (I), and the isomorphous selenocyanate analogue, {[Cd(C₂₄H₃₂N₆)₂(H₂O)₂](NCSe)₂·2H₂O}_n, (II), the Cd^II cations occupy inversion centres and have octahedral CdN₄O₂ environments, completed by four N atoms of the organic ligands [Cd—N = 2.316 (2) and 2.361 (2) Å for (I), and 2.313 (3) and 2.372 (3) Å for (II)] and two trans‐coordinated aqua ligands [Cd—O = 2.3189 (15) Å for (I) and 2.323 (2) Å for (II)]. In each compound, the ligand displays a bidentate N¹:N^1′‐bridging mode, connecting the metal centres at a distance of 14.66 Å into two‐dimensional nets of (4,4)‐topology, while the uncoordinated thio(seleno)cyanate anions reside inside the net cavities. Hydrogen bonding between the water molecules, anions and 1,2,4‐triazole N atoms supports the tight packing, with an interlayer distance of 6.09 Å.     

Rational Construction of Polymeric Cadmium(II) Benzimidazole for Transition Metal Ion Exchange

A 1D double‐helical coordination polymer {[Cd(pbbm)₂]₂(ClO₄)₄(H₂O)₂}_n ( 1 ) was successfully constructed by the reaction of Cd(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with 1,1′‐(1,5‐pentanediyl)bis‐1H‐benzimidazole (pbbm). Interestingly, polymer 1 exhibits highly selective capacity for the ionic exchange of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ over Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions in the crystalline solid state when the crystals of 1 are immersed in the aqueous solutions of the perchlorate salts of Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺ ions, respectively, which indicates that central Cd^II ion exchange might be considered as being dominated by the coordination ability of metal ions to free functional groups, ionic radii of exchanged metal ions, and the solution concentration of adsorbed metal salts. The parent material‐ and ion‐exchange‐induced products are identified by FT‐IR spectroscopy, PXRD patterns as well as SEM and EDS measurements. In addition, the thermal stability of 1 was also investigated.     

Photoluminescence properties of a cationic trinuclear zinc(II) complex with the tetradentate Schiff base ligand 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate

Metal complexes with Schiff base ligands have been suggested as potential phosphors in electroluminescent devices. In the title complex, tetrakis[6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolato‐1:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O;3:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O]trizinc(II) hexafluoridophosphate methanol monosolvate, [Zn₃(C₁₄H₁₃N₂O)₄](PF₆)₂·CH₃OH, the Zn^II cations adopt both six‐ and four‐coordinate geometries involving the N and O atoms of tetradentate 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate ligands. Two terminal Zn^II cations adopt distorted octahedral geometries and the central Zn^II cation adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The O atoms of the phenolate ligands bridge three Zn^II cations, forming a dicationic trinuclear metal cluster. The title complex exhibits a strong emission at 469 nm with a quantum yield of 15.5%.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Photoluminescence Property of Zinc(II), Cadmium(II), and Lead(II) Complexes with Bidentate Ligand: 1‐(1‐Imidazolyl)‐4‐(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (IIMB)

Assembly of bidentate ligand 1‐(1‐imidazolyl)‐4‐(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (IIMB) with varied metal salts of Zn^II, Cd^II and Pb^II provide three new complexes, [Zn(IIMB)₂](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O ( 1 ), [Cd(IIMB)₂(SCN)₂] ( 2 ) and [Pb(IIMB)₂(SCN)](SCN) ( 3 ). Single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies revealed that complexes 1 and 2 display a similar one‐dimensional double stranded chain structure, while complex 3 is a slight distorted rhombohedral grid network with (4,4) topology. The results indicate that the coordination geometry of the metal ion and the counter anion have great impact on the structure of the complexes. In addition, the photoluminescence properties of ligand IIMB and complexes 1 – 3 were studied in the solid state at room temperature.     

Poly[(μ2‐1,3‐di‐4‐pyridylpropane‐κ2N:N′)(μ3‐glutarato‐κ3O:O′:O′′)dizinc(II)]

The title compound, [Zn₂(C₅H₆O₄)₂(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)]_n or [Zn₂(glu)₂(bpp)]_n, is a novel zinc polymer based on mixed flexible glutarate (glu) and 1,3‐di‐4‐pyridylpropane (bpp) ligands. The Zn^II center has a distorted tetra­hedral geometry and the central atom of the bpp ligand is located at a special site with a C₂ axis passing through it. A layer is formed by Zn–glu bonding. Such layers are pillared by bpp ligands, forming a three‐dimensional framework with large channels. The inverted inter­penetration of two three‐dimensional frameworks completes the mol­ecular structure.     

Tetranuclear Zn(II) complexes with compartmental and dicyanamido ligands: synthesis,structure, and luminescent properties

New tetranuclear compounds have been obtained by reacting binuclear complexes, [Zn₂L ⁿ (μ-OH)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, with sodium dicyanamide (HL ⁿ are end-off bicompartmental ligands resulting from condensation between 2,6-diformyl-p-cresol with N,N-dimethyl-ethylenediamine or 2-aminomethyl-pyridine). The complexes, [{L¹(μ-OH)Zn₂}(μ _1,5-dca)₂{Zn₂(μ-OH)L¹}](ClO₄)₂ (1) and [{Zn₂L²(μ ₃-OH)(dca)}₂](ClO₄)₂?·?2H₂O (2), have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The angular nature of the bridging dicyanamido induces the “M” shape of the tetranuclear cationic unit in 1. The tetranuclear cation, because of its particular shape, acts as a receptor toward one perchlorate ion, which is hydrogen bonded to the hydroxo groups. This tetranuclear unit in 2 has a defective heterocubane structure. The luminescence properties of the new tetranuclear complexes have been investigated.     

NiII and ZnII complexes of the hexadentate macrocyclic ligand cis‐6,13‐di­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐6,13‐di­amine

The title pendent‐arm macrocyclic hexa­amine ligand binds stereospecifically in a hexadentate manner, and we report here its isomorphous Ni^II and Zn^II complexes (both as perchlorate salts), namely (cis‐6,13‐di­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐6,13‐di­amine‐κ⁶N)­nickel(II) di­per­chlorate, [Ni(C₁₂H₃₀N₆)]­­(ClO₄)₂, and (cis‐6,13‐di­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraaza‐cyclo­tetra­decane‐6,13‐di­amine‐κ⁶N)­zinc(II) di­per­chlorate, [Zn(C₁₂H₃₀N₆)]­(ClO₄)₂. Distortion of the N—M—N valence angles from their ideal octahedral values becomes more pronounced with increasing metal‐ion size and the present results are compared with other structures of this ligand.     

Bis{2,6‐bis[3‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)pyrazol‐1‐yl‐κN2]pyridine‐κN}zinc(II) diperchlorate bis(nitromethane) solvate

The title compound, [Zn(C₂₉H₂₉N₅)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃NO₂, contains a Zn^II ion showing only small deviations from local D_2d symmetry. The lower rhombicity exhibited by this complex compared with that of its Cu^II congener suggests that the highly rhombic stereochemistry exhibited by the latter is largely imposed by the stereoelectronic preferences of the Cu^II ion.     

Structural characterisation of mononuclear zinc(ii) complexes of 4-methyl-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole with three-atom co-ligands: [ZnII(medpt)2X]ClO4 (X?=?NCS?, N3?, NO2?)

The reaction of 4-methyl-3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (medpt) with Zn(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O and NaSCN, NaN₃ or NaNO₂ in a 2:1:1 molar ratio in MeOH/H₂O (9:1) affords the mononuclear complexes [Zn^II(medpt)₂(NCS)]ClO₄, [Zn^II(medpt)₂(N₃)]ClO₄ and [Zn^II(medpt)₂(NO₂)]ClO₄, respectively. All three complexes have been structurally characterised and found to feature unusual coordination polyhedra for 3,5-di(2-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole complexes. In [Zn^II(medpt)₂(NCS)]ClO₄ and [Zn^II(medpt)₂(N₃)]ClO₄, the zinc atom resides within a distorted square-pyramidal N₅ coordination sphere [τ = 0.22 and 0.04, respectively] with two bidentate medpt ligands bound equatorially and the pseudohalide ion coordinating as a unidentate co-ligand in the apical position. In contrast, the NO₂ ⁻ ion in [Zn^II(medpt)₂(NO₂)]ClO₄ acts as a bidentate ligand, which leads to a strongly distorted N₄O₂ coordination environment about the metal centre.     

Tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐N,N′)­iron(II) diperchlorate

The title compound, [Fe(C₁₀H₈N₂)₃](ClO₄)₂, is isomorphous with the Zn^II and Ru^II analogues. A twofold axis passes through the metal atom and the midpoint of the C—C bond joining the two pyridine rings of one of the bi­pyridyl ligands.     

Synthesis,structure, thermostability and luminescence properties of ZnII and CdII coordination polymers based on dimethysuccinate and flexible 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene ligands

The design and synthesis of functional coordination polymers is motivated not only by their structural beauty but also by their potential applications. Zn^II and Cd^II coordination polymers are promising candidates for producing photoactive materials because these d¹⁰ metal ions not only possess a variety of coordination numbers and geometries, but also exhibit luminescence properties when bound to functional ligands. It is difficult to predict the final structure of such polymers because the assembly process is influenced by many subtle factors. Bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)‐substituted alkane/benzene molecules are good bridging ligands because their flexibility allows them to bend and rotate when they coordinate to metal centres. Two new Zn^II and Cd^II coordination polymers based on mixed ligands, namely, poly[[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene‐κ²N³:N^3′]bis(μ₃‐2,2‐dimethylbutanoato‐κ³O¹:O⁴:O^4′)dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₆H₈O₄)₂(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)]_n, and poly[[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene‐κ²N³:N^3′]bis(μ₃‐2,2‐dimethylbutanoato‐κ⁵O¹,O^1′:O⁴,O^4′:O⁴)dicadmium(II)], [Cd₂(C₆H₈O₄)₂(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)]_n, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Both complexes crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c with similar unit‐cell parameters and feature two‐dimensional structures formed by the interconnection of S‐shaped Zn(Cd)–2,2‐dimethylsuccinate chains with 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene bridges. However, the Cd^II and Zn^II centres have different coordination numbers and the 2,2‐dimethylsuccinate ligands display different coordination modes. Both complexes exhibit a blue photoluminescence in the solid state at room temperature.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Bis(1‐{(E)‐2‐pyridinylmethylidene}‐semicarbazone)iron(II) and ‐copper(II) Diperchlorate Monohydrates

The pyridine‐2‐carbaldehyde semicarbazone ligand (HL) reacts with iron(II) and copper(II) perchlorates in boiling ethanol to yield red‐violet [Fe^II(HL)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O ( 1 ) and light‐green crystals [Cu^II(HL)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O ( 2 ). The crystals are triclinic with the metal ions in an octahedral environment, coordinated to two nitrogen and one oxygen‐donor atom from HL. Electronic, magnetic and electrochemical properties are presented as well.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Thermal Reactivity of New ZnII and CdII Thio‐ and Selenocyanato Coordination Compounds

Reaction of Zn^II and Cd^II thiocyanate or selenocyanate with pyrazine leads to the formation of new Zn^II and Cd^II coordination compounds. The structures of [Zn(NCSe)₂(pyrazine)₂]_n ( 1A ), [Cd(NCS)₂(pyrazine)₂]_n ( 2A ) and [Cd(NCSe)₂(pyrazine)₂]_n ( 3A ) consist of octahedrally coordinated metal cations which are surrounded by two terminal N‐bonded anions and two μ₂‐bridging pyrazine molecules. The metal cations are connected via the pyrazine ligands into layers, which are further linked by weak intermolecular S···S respectively Se···Se interactions. Investigations on the thermal degradation behavior of 1A , 2A , and 3A using simultaneous differential thermoanalysis and thermogravimetry as well as X‐ray powder diffraction, IR‐ and Raman spectroscopy prove that on heating, the pyrazine‐rich compound 1A decomposes in one step into zinc selenocyanate without the formation of a pyrazine‐deficient intermediate. In contrast, for compounds 2A and 3A a stepwise decomposition is observed, leading to the formation of the pyrazine‐deficient compounds [Cd(NCS)₂(pyrazine)]_n ( 2B‐I and 2B‐II ) and [Cd(NCSe)₂(pyrazine)]_n ( 3B ) as intermediates. The structures and the thermal reactivity are discussed and compared with that of related transition metal thiocyanates and selenocyanates with pyridine as N‐donor ligand.