Well-resolved, new water morphologies obtained by modification of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic character and shapes of the supporting layers

The planar coordination complexes Ag2L2] (L = ophen or obpy, where Hophen = 1H-1,10]phenanthrolin-2-one and Hobpy = 1H-2,2']bipyridinyl-6-one) contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional groups. Crystallization of these structurally related complexes in an aqueous medium gives Ag2(ophen)2]2 x 6H2O (1), Ag2(obpy)2]3 x 18H2O (2), and Ag2(obpy)2]2 x 14.5H2O (3). Novel water morphologies are observed in these crystalline hydrates, similar 2D metal-organic layers in which the planar Ag2L2] complexes as building blocks are stacked alternately together and provide hydrogen bond acceptor sites (O atoms) for anchoring 1D water chains or 2D water layers on their surfaces. In the wavelike metal-organic framework of 1, the wide hydrophobic region renders the formation of 1D water tapes containing four- and six-membered water rings, whereas more complex 2D water layers are sandwiched in 2 and 3, owing to the fact that the surfaces of the supporting layers are more hydrophilic than 1.