Syntheses,structures, and properties of two 2-D Cd(II) complexes based on 2-(1H-imidazol-1-methyl)-1H-benzimidazole and polycarboxylate ligands

Two 2-D Cd(II) complexes, {Cd(imb)(bdc)(H₂O)]·CH₃OH}_n (1) and {Cd(imb)(Hbtc)(CH₃OH)]·2H₂O·CH₃OH}_n (2), have been synthesized by reactions of CdCl₂·2.5H₂O with 2-(1H-imidazol-1-methyl)-1H-benzimidazole (imb) and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H₂bdc) or 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H₃btc). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that 1 possesses an infinite 2-D layered structure in which all the carboxylates chelate Cd(II) and imb bridge Cd(II) ions. Complex 2 also features an infinite 2-D layered structure and imb ligands also bridge Cd(II) ions, but two carboxylates of each 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate coordinate to Cd(II) in monodentate or chelating mode, leaving the third one, which is not deprotonated, uncoordinated. IR spectra, fluorescent properties, and thermogravimetric analyses of both complexes have been investigated.