Synthesis and characterization of two new coordination supramolecular structures from a versatile unsymmetric 5-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione (Hpot) ligand

Two new inorganic–organic coordination networks based on a versatile and unsymmetric building block 5-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione (Hpot) and inorganic Co^II and Cd^II salts have been synthesized in mixed solvent media and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal Hpot (1) was obtained from methanol solution. Reaction of Co(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O with Hpot afforded a neutral two-dimensional (2-D) porous coordination polymer {[Co(pot)₂] · 6H₂O}_n (2) with a (4,4) network, which shows a 3-D supramolecular network through O–H?O weak interactions. While substituting the transition metal ions used in 2 with Cd(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, a neutral 2-D coordination polymer [Cd₂(pot)₄]_n (3) with a (6,3) network which further extended to a 3-D supramolecular structure through versatile hydrogen bonds C–H?X (X = O, N and S) was obtained. It is remarkable that the building block “pot” anion exhibits versatile coordination modes in complexes 2 and 3. These results indicate that the versatile nature of this rigid unsymmetric ligand, together with the coordination preferences of the metal centers, plays a critical role in construction of novel coordination polymers. The properties of gas absorption, magnetism and luminescence of 2 and 3 have been investigated and discussed in detail.