Concentration-controlled Zn(II) compounds constructed from N-tosyl-L-glutamic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline

By controlling the concentration of the reaction system, two zinc(II) complexes, Zn₂(tsgluO)₂(phen)₂]_n (1) and Zn₂(tsgluO)₂(phen)₂(H₂O)₂] (2) (H₂tsgluO = N-tosyl-L-glutamic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 both crystallize in the triclinic space group P-1. Complex 1 exhibits a 1-D double-chain structure. Complex 2 has a dinuclear structure which is extended by hydrogen-bonding interactions to form a 2-D supramolecular network. The structural difference indicates that the concentration plays a crucial role in modulating structures of coordination complexes. The two compounds also show intense fluorescence at room temperature.