Synthesis and crystal structure of a two‐dimensional sodium coordination polymer of 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)bis(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one)

The crystal engineering of coordination polymers has aroused interest due to their structural versatility, unique properties and applications in different areas of science. The selection of appropriate ligands as building blocks is critical in order to afford a range of topologies. Alkali metal cations are known for their mainly ionic chemistry in aqueous media. Their coordination number varies depending on the size of the binding partners, and on the electrostatic interaction between the ligands and the metal ions. The two‐dimensional coordination polymer poly[tetra‐μ‐aqua‐[μ₄‐4,4′‐(diazenediyl)bis(5‐oxo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazolido)]disodium(I)], [Na₂(C₄H₂N₈O₂)(H₂O)₄]_n, (I), was synthesized from 4‐amino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5(4H)‐one (ATO) and its single‐crystal structure determined. The mid‐point of the imino N=N bond of the 4,4′‐(diazenediyl)bis(5‐oxo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazolide) (ZTO²⁻) ligand is located on an inversion centre. The asymmetric unit consists of one Na⁺ cation, half a bridging ZTO²⁻ ligand and two bridging water ligands. Each Na⁺ cation is coordinated in a trigonal antiprismatic fashion by six O atoms, i.e. two from two ZTO²⁻ ligands and the remaining four from bridging water ligands. The Na⁺ cation is located near a glide plane, thus the two bridging O atoms from the two coordinating ZTO²⁻ ligands are on adjacent apices of the trigonal antiprism, rather than being in an anti configuration. All water and ZTO²⁻ ligands act as bridging ligands between metal centres. Each Na⁺ metal centre is bridged to a neigbouring Na⁺ cation by two water molecules to give a one‐dimensional [Na(H₂O)₂]_n chain. The organic ZTO²⁻ ligand, an O atom of which also bridges the same pair of Na⁺ cations, then crosslinks these [Na(H₂O)₂]_n chains to form two‐dimensional sheets. The two‐dimensional sheets are further connected by intermolecular hydrogen bonds, giving rise to a stabile hydrogen‐bonded network.