Construction of a functional layered solid using the tetrakis(imidazolyl)borate coordinating anion

The coordination polymer PbB(Im)(4)](NO(3)), constructed by using tetrakis(imidazolyl)borate and lead(II) nitrate solutions, is a layered material with the metal centers facing the interlayer spacing. As in naturally occurring layered minerals, this compound can readily undergo anion exchange in the solid state with retention of crystallinity. We examined stoichiometric exchange of (15)N-nitrate for nitrate and iodide for nitrate by (15)N and (207)Pb SSNMR and confirmed retention of crystallinity by IR and powder XRD diffraction.