Poly[bis(μ‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis[μ‐6‐(4‐pyridyl)‐5H‐imidazolo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline]dilead(II)]: an interpenetrating α‐Po net

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, Pb₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₁₈H₁₁N₅)₂]_n, contains two Pb^II atoms, two benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (1,4‐bdc) dianions and two 6‐(4‐pyridyl)‐5H‐imidazolo4,5‐f]1,10]phenanthroline (L) ligands. Each Pb^II atom is eight‐coordinated by three N atoms from two different L ligands and five carboxylate O atoms from three different 1,4‐bdc dianions. The two 1,4‐bdc dianions (1,4‐bdc₁ and 1,4‐bdc₂) show different coordination modes. Each 1,4‐bdc₁ coordinates to two Pb^II atoms in a chelating bis‐bidentate mode. Each carboxylate group of the 1,4‐bdc₂ anion connects two Pb^II atoms in a chelating–bridging tridentate mode to form a dinuclear unit. Neighbouring dinuclear units are connected together by the aromatic backbone of the 1,4‐bdc dianions and the L ligands into a three‐dimensional six‐connected α‐polonium framework. The most striking feature is that two identical three‐dimensional single α‐polonium nets are interlocked with each other, thus leading directly to the formation of a twofold interpenetrated three‐dimensional α‐polonium architecture. The framework is held together in part by strong N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the imidazole NH groups of the L ligands and the carboxylate O atoms of 1,4‐bdc dianions within different α‐polonium nets.