A three‐dimensional cadmium(II) coordination polymer: poly[[[μ‐4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine‐κ2N:N](μ‐3,3′‐thiodipropionato‐κ3O,O′:O)cadmium(II)] monohydrate]

In the title coordination polymer, {[Cd(C₆H₈O₄S)(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)]·H₂O}_n, the Cd^II atom displays a distorted octahedral coordination, formed by three carboxylate O atoms and one S atom from three different 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands, and two N atoms from two different 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine ligands. The Cd^II centres are bridged through carboxylate O atoms of 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands and through N atoms of 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine ligands to form two different one‐dimensional chains, which intersect to form a two‐dimensional layer. These two‐dimensional layers are linked by S atoms of 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands from adjacent layers to form a three‐dimensional network.     

The double‐stranded ladder‐like structure of poly[[bis(μ2‐acetato‐κ2O:O′)bis(acetato‐κO)bis(μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′)dicopper(II)] 4‐nitrophenol disolvate tetrahydrate]

The reaction of 4,4′‐bipyridine with copper acetate in the presence of 4‐nitrophenol led to the formation of the title compound, {[Cu(CH₃COO)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)]·C₆H₅NO₃·2H₂O}_n. The complex forms a double‐stranded ladder‐like coordination polymer extending along the b axis. The double‐stranded polymers are separated by 4‐nitrophenol and water solvent molecules. The two Cu^II centres of the centrosymmetric Cu₂O₂ ladder rungs have square‐pyramidal coordination environments, which are formed by two acetate O atoms and two 4,4′‐bipyridine N atoms in the basal plane and another acetate O atom at the apex. The ladder‐like double strands are separated from each other by one unit‐cell length along the c axis, and are connected by the water and 4‐nitrophenol molecules through a series of O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions and two unique intermolecular π–π interactions.     

The two‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[diaqua(μ2‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline)‐μ4‐sulfato‐μ3‐sulfato‐dicadmium(II)]

In the title coordination polymer, [Cd₂(SO₄)₂(C₁₃H₈N₄)(H₂O)₂]_n, there are two crystallographically independent Cd^II centres with different coordination geometries. The first Cd^II centre is hexacoordinated by four O atoms of four sulfate ligands, one water O atom and one N atom of a 1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (IP) ligand, giving a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The second Cd^II centre is heptacoordinated by four O atoms of three sulfate ligands, one water O atom and two N atoms of one chelating IP ligand, resulting in a distorted monocapped anti‐trigonal prismatic geometry. The symmetry‐independent Cd^II ions are bridged in an alternating fashion by sulfate ligands, forming one‐dimensional ladder‐like chains which are connected through the IP ligands to form two‐dimensional layers. These two‐dimensional layers are linked by interlayer hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of a three‐dimensional supramolecular network.     

A one‐dimensional cobalt(II) coordination polymer based on 2,4′‐oxydibenzoic acid: poly[[[diaquabis[2‐(4‐carboxyphenoxy)benzoato‐κO1]cobalt(II)]‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′] dihydrate]

The reaction of CoSO₄ with 2,4‐oxydibenzoic acid (H₂oba) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (bipy) under hydrothermal condition yielded a new one‐dimensional cobalt(II) coordination polymer, {[Co(C₁₄H₉O₅)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n, which was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, magnetic properties and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The Co^II ions are connected by bipy ligands into infinite one‐dimensional chains. The Hoba⁻ ligands extend out from the two sides of the one‐dimensional chain. O—H...O hydrogen bonding extends these chains into a two‐dimensional supramolecular architecture.     

A three‐dimensional CdII coordination framework: poly[di‐μ2‐aqua‐{μ2‐1,4‐bis[(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene‐κ2N4:N4′}di‐μ3‐terephthalato‐κ3O:O′:O′′‐dicadmium(II)]

The title Cd^II coordination polymer, [Cd(C₁₀H₈O₄)(C₁₂H₁₂N₆)_0.5(H₂O)]_n, has been obtained by the hydrothermal method and studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, IR spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The compound forms a novel three‐dimensional framework with 3,8‐connected three‐dimensional binodal {4.5²}₂{4².5¹⁰.6¹².7.8³} topology. An investigation of its photoluminescence properties shows that the compound exhibits a strong fluorescence emission in the solid state at room temperature.     

Poly[[chlorido(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)copper(II)]‐μ3‐1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenido‐κ3N:N′:N′′]: coordination polymer sheets linked into bilayers by hydrogen bonds

In the title compound, [Cu(C₉H₅N₄O)Cl(C₁₂H₈N₂)]_n or [Cu(tcnoet)Cl(phen)]_n, where phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline and tcnoet is 1,1,3,3‐tetracyano‐2‐ethoxypropenide, the axially elongated (4 + 2) coordination polyhedron around the Cu^II centre contains N atoms from three different tcnoet ligands. The resulting coordination polymer takes the form of sheets which are linked in pairs by a single C—H...N hydrogen bond to form bilayers. The bond lengths provide evidence for significant bond fixation in the phen ligand and extensive electronic delocalization in the tcnoet ligand, where the two –C(CN)₂ units are rotated, in conrotatory fashion, out of the plane of the central C₃O fragment.     

Enhanced third‐order nonlinear optical properties determined in thin films using the Z‐scan technique: bis(μ‐4,4′‐oxydibenzoato)bis[(4′‐phenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine)cobalt(II)]

π‐Conjugated organic materials exhibit high and tunable nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, and fast response times. 4′‐Phenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine (PTP) is an important N‐heterocyclic ligand involving π‐conjugated systems, however, studies concerning the third‐order NLO properties of terpyridine transition metal complexes are limited. The title binuclear terpyridine Co^II complex, bis(μ‐4,4′‐oxydibenzoato)‐κ³O,O′:O′′;κ³O′′:O,O′‐bis[(4′‐phenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ³N,N′,N′′)cobalt(II)], [Co₂(C₁₄H₈O₅)₂(C₂₁H₁₅N₃)₂], (1), has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. In the crystal structure, each Co^II cation is surrounded by three N atoms of a PTP ligand and three O atoms, two from a bidentate and one from a symmetry‐related monodentate 4,4′‐oxydibenzoate (ODA²⁻) ligand, completing a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Neighbouring [Co(PTP)]²⁺ units are bridged by ODA²⁻ ligands to form a ring‐like structure. The third‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of (1) and PTP were determined in thin films using the Z‐scan technique. The title compound shows a strong third‐order NLO saturable absorption (SA), while PTP exhibits a third‐order NLO reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The absorptive coefficient β of (1) is −37.3 × 10⁻⁷ m W⁻¹, which is larger than that (8.96 × 10⁻⁷ m W⁻¹) of PTP. The third‐order NLO susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ values are calculated as 6.01 × 10⁻⁸ e.s.u. for (1) and 1.44 × 10⁻⁸ e.s.u. for PTP.     

Poly[(N,N‐dimethylformamide‐κO)(μ3‐4,4′‐ethylenedibenzoato‐κ5O,O′:O′:O′′,O′′′)(pyrazino[2,3‐f][1,10]phenanthroline‐κ2N8,N9)lead(II)]

In the title Pb^II coordination polymer, [Pb(C₁₆H₁₀O₄)(C₁₄H₈N₄)(C₃H₇NO)]_n, each Pb^II atom is eight‐coordinated by two chelating N atoms from one pyrazino[2,3‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (L) ligand, one dimethylformamide (DMF) O atom and five carboxylate O atoms from three different 4,4′‐ethylenedibenzoate (eedb) ligands. The eedb dianions bridge neighbouring Pb^II centres through four typical Pb—O bonds and one longer Pb—O interaction to form a two‐dimensional structure. The C atoms from the L and eedb ligands form C—H...O hydrogen bonds with the O atoms of eedb and DMF ligands, which further stabilize the structure. The title compound is the first Pb^II coordination polymer incorporating the L ligand.     

A two‐dimensional manganese(II) coordination polymer: poly­[[di­aqua­manganese(II)]‐μ‐4,4‐bi­pyridine‐κ2N:N′‐μ‐(p‐phenyl­ene­dioxy­diacetato)‐κ2O:O′]

In the title two‐dimensional coordination polymer, [Mn(1,4‐BDOA)(4,4‐bipy)(H₂O)₂]_n [1,4‐BDOA²⁻ is the p‐phenyl­ene­dioxy­di­acetate dianion (C₁₀H₈O₆) and 4,4‐bipy is 4,4‐bi­pyridine (C₁₀H₈N₂)], each Mn^II atom displays octahedral coordination by two O atoms of the 1,4‐BDOA²⁻ groups, two N atoms of the 4,4‐bipy ligands and two solvent water mol­ecules. The Mn^II atom, 4,4‐bipy ligand and 1,4‐BDOA²⁻ group occupy different inversion centres. Adjacent Mn^II atoms are bridged by 1,4‐BDOA²⁻ groups and 4,4‐bipy ligands, forming a two‐dimensional network with Mn⋯Mn separations of 11.592 (2) and 11.699 (2) Å. Hydro­gen bonds from a water O—H group link the layers in the third dimension.     

Poly[triaqua(μ4‐4‐carboxybenzenesulfonato‐κ4O:O′:O′′:O′′′)(4‐carboxybenzenesulfonato‐κO)strontium(II)]

This study presents the coordination modes and two‐dimensional network of a novel strontium(II) coordination polymer, [Sr(C₇H₅O₅S)₂(H₂O)₃]_n. The eight‐coordinate Sr²⁺ ion is in a distorted bis‐disphenoidal coordination environment, surrounded by four sulfonate and one carboxyl O atom from five benzenesulfonate ligands, two of which are symmetry unique, and by three O atoms from three independent aqua ligands. The compound exhibits a monolayer structure with coordination bonds within and hydrogen bonds between the layers. The μ₄ acid ligand bridges the metal ions in two dimensions to form a thick undulating monolayer with a hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic surfaces. A second independent monoanion is arranged outward from both sides of the monolayer and serves to link adjacent monolayers via carboxyl–water and water–carboxyl hydrogen bonds.     

Poly[aqua[μ3‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3,5‐diyl)diphosphonato‐κ3O:O′:O′′][μ2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3,5‐diyl)diphosphonato‐κ2O:O′]calcium(II)]

The rigid organic ligand (pyridine‐3,5‐diyl)diphosphonic acid has been used to create the title novel three‐dimensional coordination polymer, [Ca(C₅H₆NO₆P₂)₂(H₂O)]_n. The six‐coordinate calcium ion is in a distorted octahedral environment, formed by five phosphonate O atoms from five different (pyridin‐1‐ium‐3,5‐diyl)diphosphonate ligands, two of which are unique, and one water O atom. Two crystallographically independent acid monoanions, L1 and L2, serve to link metal centres using two different coordination modes, viz.η²μ₂ and η³μ₃, respectively. The latter ligand, L2, forms a strongly undulated two‐dimensional framework parallel to the crystallographic bc plane, whereas the former ligand, L1, is utilized in the formation of one‐dimensional helical chains in the [010] direction. The two sublattices of L1 and L2 interweave at the Ca²⁺ ions to form a three‐dimensional framework. In addition, multiple O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds stabilize the three‐dimensional coordination network. Topologically, the three‐dimensional framework can be simplified as a very unusual (2,3,5)‐connected three‐nodal net represented by the Schläfli symbol (4·8²)(4·8⁸·10)(8).     

A two‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymer based on 2,4′‐oxybis(benzoate) and 4,4′‐bipyridine

The reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O with 2,4′‐oxybis(benzoic acid) and 4,4′‐bipyridine under hydrothermal conditions produced a new mixed‐ligand two‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymer, namely poly[[(μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ²N ,N ′)[μ‐2,4′‐oxybis(benzoato)‐κ⁴O ²,O ^2′:O ⁴,O ^4′]copper(II)] monohydrate], {[Cu(C₁₄H₈O₅)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]·H₂O}_n , which was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The X‐ray diffraction crystal structure analysis reveals that the Cu^II ions are connected to form a two‐dimensional wave‐like network through 4,4′‐bipyridine and 2,4′‐oxybis(benzoate) ligands. The two‐dimensional layers are expanded into a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure through intermolecular O—H…O and C—H…O hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that the complex shows weak antiferromagnetic interactions between adjacent Cu^II ions.     

A three‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed from 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands exhibiting photoluminescence

Ligands based on polycarboxylic acids are excellent building blocks for the construction of coordination polymers; they may bind to a variety of metal ions and form clusters, as well as extended chain or network structures. Among these building blocks, biphenyltetracarboxylic acids (H₄bpta) with C ₂ symmetry have recently attracted attention because of their variable bridging and multidentate chelating modes. The new luminescent three‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[(μ₅‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylato)bis[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene]dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)]_n , was synthesized solvothermally and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure contains two crystallographically independent Zn^II cations. Both metal cations are located on twofold axes and display distorted tetrahedral coordination geometries. Neighbouring Zn^II centres are bridged by carboxylate groups in the syn –anti mode to form one‐dimensional chains. Adjacent chains are linked through 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands to form a three‐dimensional network. In the solid state, the compound exhibits blue photoluminescence and represents a promising candidate for a thermally stable and solvent‐resistant blue fluorescent material.     

A new two‐dimensional managnese(II) coordination polymer constructed by 2,2′‐(1,2‐phenylene)bis(1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate)

In recent years, N‐heterocyclic carboxylate ligands have attracted much interest in the preparation of new coordination polymers since they contain N‐atom donors, as well as O‐atom donors, and have a rich variety of coordination modes which can lead to polymers with intriguing structures and interesting properties. A new two‐dimensional coordination polymer, namely poly[[μ₃‐2,2′‐(1,2‐phenylene)bis(4‐carboxy‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylato)‐κ⁶O⁴,N³,N^3′,O^4′:O⁵:O^5′]manganese(II)], [Mn(C₁₆H₈N₄O₈)]_n or [Mn(H₄Phbidc)]_n, has been synthesized by the reaction of Mn(OAc)₂·4H₂O (OAc is acetate) with 2,2′‐(1,2‐phenylene)bis(1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid) (H₆Phbidc) under solvothermal conditions. In the polymer, each Mn^II ion is six‐coordinated by two N atoms from one H₄Phbidc²⁻ ligand and by four O atoms from three H₄Phbidc²⁻ ligands, forming a significantly distorted octahedral MnN₂O₄ coordination geometry. The Mn^II ions are linked by hexadentate H₄Phbidc²⁻ ligands, leading to a two‐dimensional structure parallel to the ac plane. In the crystal, adjacent layers are further connected by N—H…O hydrogen bonds, forming a three‐dimensional structure in the solid state.     

Poly­[[[aqua­manganese(II)]‐μ2‐4,4′‐bi­pyridine‐μ3‐succinato] 4,4′‐bi­pyridine hemisolvate]

The polymeric title complex, {[Mn(C₄H₄O₄)(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)]·0.5C₁₀H₈N₂}_n, possesses a three‐dimensional open‐framework structure, with the solvate 4,4′‐bi­pyridine (bipy) mol­ecules, which lie around centers of inversion, clathrated in the channels of the framework. The Mn^II center is surrounded by three succinate (succ) ligands, one water mol­ecule and two bipy ligands, and displays a slightly distorted octahedral coordination environment, with cis angles ranging from 84.14 (12) to 96.56 (11)°. Each succ dianion coordinates to three Mn^II atoms, thus acting as a bridging tridentate ligand; in turn, the Mn^II atoms are bridged by three succ ligands, thus forming a two‐dimensional Mn–succ sheet pillared by the bridging bipy ligands. Two hydrogen‐bonding interactions, involving the water mol­ecules and the carboxy O atoms of the succ ligands, are present in the crystal structure.     

Poly[(μ4‐adamantane‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ5O1:O1′:O3,O3′:O3′)(μ3‐adamantane‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ5O1,O1′:O3,O3′:O3′)dimagnesium]: a layered coordination polymer

The title compound, [Mg₂(C₁₂H₁₄O₄)₂]_n, is the first example of an s‐block metal adamantanedicarboxylate coordination polymer. The asymmetric unit comprises two crystallographically unique Mg^II centers and two adamantane‐1,3‐dicarboxylate ligands. The compound is constructed from a combination of chains of corner‐sharing magnesium‐centered polyhedra, parallel to the a axis, connected by organic linkers to form a layered polymer. The two Mg^II centers are present in distorted tetrahedral and octahedral coordination environments derived from carboxylate O atoms. Tetrahedrally coordinated Mg^II centers have been reported in organometallic compounds, but this is the first time that such coordination has been observed in a magnesium‐based coordination polymer. The bond valance sums of the two Mg^II centers are 2.05 and 2.11 valence units, matching well with the expected value of 2.     

A three‐dimensional ZnII coordination framework: poly[[μ2‐(E)‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene][μ4‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato][μ2‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato]dizinc(II)]

In the title coordination polymer, [Zn₂(C₁₄H₈N₂O₄)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₂)]_n, the asymmetric unit contains one Zn^II cation, two halves of 2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoate anions (denoted L²⁻) and half of a 1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene ligand (denoted bpe). The three ligands lie across crystallographic inversion centres. Each Zn^II centre is four‐coordinated by three O atoms of bridging carboxylate groups from three L²⁻ ligands and by one N atom from a bpe ligand, forming a tetrahedral coordination geometry. Two Zn^II atoms are bridged by two carboxylate groups of L²⁻ ligands, generating a [Zn₂(CO₂)₂] ring. Each loop serves as a fourfold node, which links its four equivalent nodes via the sharing of four L²⁻ ligands to form a two‐dimensional [Zn₂L₄]_n net. These nets are separated by bpe ligands acting as spacers, producing a three‐dimensional framework with a 4⁶6⁴ topology. Powder X‐ray diffraction and solid‐state photoluminescence were also measured.     

Poly[[(μ2‐4,4′‐bipyridine)(μ3‐5‐isonicotinamidoisophthalato)cobalt(II)] trihydrate]

In the title compound, {[Co(C₁₄H₈N₂O₅)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]·3H₂O}_n, the Co^II cation is five‐coordinated with a slightly distorted trigonal–bipyramidal geometry, and the 5‐isonicotinamidoisophthalate ligands link Co^II atoms into a layered structure. These two‐dimensional arrays are further pillared by rod‐like 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands to give a three‐dimensional framework with pcu (primitive cubic) topology. The magnetic and adsorption properties of the title compound are also discussed.     

In situ single‐crystal to single‐crystal (SCSC) transformation of the one‐dimensional polymer catena‐poly[[diaqua(sulfato)copper(II)]‐μ2‐glycine] into the two‐dimensional polymer poly[μ2‐glycine‐μ4‐sulfato‐copper(II)]

The one‐dimensional coordination polymer catena‐poly[diaqua(sulfato‐κO)copper(II)]‐μ₂‐glycine‐κ²O:O′], [Cu(SO₄)(C₂H₅NO₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, (I), was synthesized by slow evaporation under vacuum of a saturated aqueous equimolar mixture of copper(II) sulfate and glycine. On heating the same blue crystal of this complex to 435 K in an oven, its aspect changed to a very pale blue and crystal structure analysis indicated that it had transformed into the two‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[(μ₂‐glycine‐κ²O:O′)(μ₄‐sulfato‐κ⁴O:O′:O′′:O′′)copper(II)], [Cu(SO₄)(C₂H₅NO₂)]_n, (II). In (I), the Cu^II cation has a pentacoordinate square‐pyramidal coordination environment. It is coordinated by two water molecules and two O atoms of bridging glycine carboxylate groups in the basal plane, and by a sulfate O atom in the apical position. In complex (II), the Cu^II cation has an octahedral coordination environment. It is coordinated by four sulfate O atoms, one of which bridges two Cu^II cations, and two O atoms of bridging glycine carboxylate groups. In the crystal structure of (I), the one‐dimensional polymers, extending along [001], are linked via N—H...O, O—H...O and bifurcated N—H...O,O hydrogen bonds, forming a three‐dimensional framework. In the crystal structure of (II), the two‐dimensional networks are linked via bifurcated N—H...O,O hydrogen bonds involving the sulfate O atoms, forming a three‐dimensional framework. In the crystal structures of both compounds, there are C—H...O hydrogen bonds present, which reinforce the three‐dimensional frameworks.     

A novel cadmium(II) coordination polymer with biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetra­carboxylic acid and 4,4′‐bipyridine

A novel cadmium(II) coordination polymer, poly[[[bis­(4,4′‐bipyridine)cadmium(II)]‐μ₃‐4,4′‐dicarboxy­biphenyl‐3,3′‐di­carboxyl­ato] 0.35‐hydrate], {[Cd(C₁₆H₈O₈)(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]·0.35H₂O}_n, was obtained by reaction of Cd(CH₃COO)₂·3H₂O, 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bpy) and biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetra­car­boxylic acid (H₄L) under hydro­thermal conditions. Each Cd^II atom lies at the centre of a distorted octa­hedron, coordinated by four O atoms from three H₂L²⁻ ligands and N atoms from two monodentate 4,4′‐bpy ligands. Each H₂L²⁻ ligand coordinates to three Cd^II atoms through two carboxyl­ate groups, one acting as a bridging bidentate ligand and the other in a chelating bidentate fashion. Two Cd atoms, two H₂L²⁻ anions and four 4,4′‐bpy ligands form a ring dimer node, which links into an extended broad zonal one‐dimensional chain along the c axis.