An easy way to achieve three‐dimensional metal–organic coordination polymers: synthesis and crystal structure of dizinc diisophthalate bis‐dimethylsulfoxide monohydrate: [Zn2(ip)4(DMSO)2(H2O)·3 DMSO]n

An easy way of producing three‐dimensional metal–organic coordination polymers involving zinc(II) benzene‐dicarboxylates is reported. The reaction of zinc oxide with benzene dicarboxylic acids in water yielded the expected hydrated zinc dicarboxylates. These zinc compounds were then suspended in dimethylsulfoxide and heated to above 100 °C for a couple of hours; the solutions were allowed after filtration to cool down to eventually deliver crystalline compounds displaying complex zeotype structures. The crystal structure of the title compound, Zn₂(ip)₄(DMSO)₂(H₂O)·3 DMSO]_n (ipH₂ = isophthalic acid = 1,3‐benzenedicarboxylic acid, DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide), is reported for the first time and shows a three‐dimensional network where octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated zinc atoms (present in a 1:1 ratio) are linked by bridging isophthalate ligands. The complex coordination network exhibits a remarkable channel structure along the z‐axis. The related zinc terephthalate–DMSO complex was similarly prepared and the crystal structure determination revealed an already documented zeotypic structure: {Zn₄(OH)₂(tp)₃(DMSO)₄} 2H₂O]_n (tpH₂ = terephthalic acid = 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylic acid). Weak interactions as well as hydrogen bonds involving water molecules and carboxy groups play a major role in the formation of these complex three‐dimensional networks. In comparison, the zinc 1,2‐benzene‐dicarboxylate–DMSO complex could not be isolated, even under more drastic conditions. The higher symmetry of the coordination network found in the zinc terephthalate–DMSO complexes was incidentally corroborated by ¹³C CP/MAS spectroscopy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.