Three one-dimensional chains with bulky backbone carboxylate ligands: Syntheses,crystal structures,and luminescent properties

To explore the influence of bulky backbone on complexes, three Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes with phenanthrene-9-carboxylate (L¹), 9H-fluorene-9-carboxylate (L²) or biphenyl-4-carboxylate (L³) together with incorporating auxiliary bridging ligad 4,4′-bipyridine (4Bipy), were synthesized and characterized: Co(L¹)₂(4Bipy)(H₂O)₂]_∞ (I), Zn(L²)₂(4Bipy)_0.5(4Bipy)_0.5]_∞ (II), and Zn₃(L³)₄(4Bipy)_0.5(4Bipy)_0.5(4Bipy)_0.5(OH)₂]_∞ (III). X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses show that complexes I–III both assume one-dimensional (1D) structures by incorporating the bridging 4Bipy (CIF file CCDC nos. 942729 (I), 942727 (II), and 942733 III). In I, mononuclear six-coordinated Co²⁺ ions are linked into a 1D linear chain by 4Bipy. While in II, mononuclear four-coordinated Zn²⁺ ions are linked into a 1D zigzag chain by 4Bipy. But in III, because of the existence of OH^?, hexanuclear Zn(II) can be regarded as a node, then bridge adjacent hexanuclear Zn(II) nodes by almost parallelled three 4Bipy ligands into a 1D linear chain. Finally the 1D chains of I–III are further assembled into an overall three-dimensional (3D) framework via intermolecular H-bonding, π…π stacking, and/or C-H…π supramolecular interactions, respectively. The results indicate that, besides different metal ions Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ or OH^? anions, the steric hindrance of backbone ligands play an important role in the formation of I–III. Moreover, the luminescent properties of corresponding ligands and their complexes were briefly investigated.