Influence of the synthetic conditions on the structural diversity of extended manganese-oxalato-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene systems

We report herein the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of eight new manganese-oxalato compounds with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe): {(Hbpe)(2)[Mn(2)(μ-ox)(3)]·～0.8(C(2)H(5)OH)·～0.4(H(2)O)}(n) (1), {[Mn(μ-ox)(μ-bpe)]·xH(2)O}(n) (2), [Mn(2)(μ-ox)(2)(μ-bpe)(bpe)(2)](n) (3), [Mn(μ-ox)(μ-bpe)](n) (4a and 4b), and {[Mn(4)(μ-ox)(3)(μ-bpe)(4)(H(2)O)(4)]·(X)(2)·mY}(n) with X = NO(3)(-) (5a), Br(-) (5b), and ClO(4)(-) (5c) and Y = solvation molecules. The appropriate selection of the synthetic conditions allowed us to control the crystal structure and to design extended 2D and 3D frameworks. Compound 1 is obtained at acid pH values and its crystal structure consists of stacked [Mn(2)(μ-ox)(3)](2-) layers with cationic Hbpe(+) molecules intercalated among them. Compound 2 was obtained at basic pH values with a manganese/bpe ratio of 1:1, and the resulting 3D structure consists of an interpenetrating framework in which metal-oxalato chains are bridged by bpe ligands, leading to a microporous network that hosts a variable number of water molecules (between 0 and 1) depending on the synthetic conditions. Compound 3, synthesized with a manganese/bpe ratio of 1:3, shows a 2D framework in which linear metal-oxalato chains are joined by bis-monodentate 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene ligands. The thermal treatment of compound 3 permits the release of one of the bpe molecules, giving rise to two new 2D crystalline phases of formula [Mn(μ-ox)(μ-bpe)](n) (4a and 4b) depending on the heating rate. The open structures of 5a-5c were synthesized in a medium with a high concentration of nitrate, perchlorate, or bromide salts (potassium or sodium as cations). These anions behave as templating agents directing the crystal growing toward a cationic porous network, in which the anions placed in the voids and channels of the structure present high mobility, as inferred from the ionic exchange experiments. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show an overall antiferromagnetic behavior for all compounds, which are discussed in detail.