Four new coordination networks, namely, {[Cd3(titb)2(SO4)2(NO3)]·(NO3)·(H2O)}n (1), {[Co3(titb)2(L1)2.5Cl]·(H2O)4}n (2), {[Co3(titb)2(L2)3(H2O)]·(H2O)4}n (3) and {[Co2(titb)2(HL3)(H2O)3]Cl}n (4) (titb = 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene, H2L1 = octanedioic acid, H2L2 = 4,4′-(2,2′-oxybis(ethane-2,1-diyl)bis(oxy))dibenzoic acid and H4L3 = benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid) have been successfully synthesized hydrothermally and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and X-ray diffraction analyses. All compounds contain MII/titb units, including 0D molecular cage for 1, 1D ladder-like chain for 3 and 2D sheets for 2 and 4, and all the counteranions (sulfate or carboxylate anions) act as a connector to pillar the MII/titb units to generate the 1D to 3D frameworks. Compound 1 exhibits a 1D chain based on discrete Cd3(titb)2 molecular cage connected by sulfates. Compound 2 is described in terms of 2D Co3(titb)2 sheet further linked by finite hexanuclear (Co6L15) chain to form a complicated 3D framework with pentanodal (3,4)-connected topology. Compound 3 is a 2D double-layer formed by the 1D Co3(titb)2 ladder-like chain connected by both pairs of (Co2L2Co3L2)n left-, right-handed helical chains and 1D (Co1L2)n linear chain. Compound 4 is tetranodal (3,5)-connected array based on Co2(titb)2 double-layered sheet pillared by HL4 ligands. Furthermore, the thermal and photoluminescent properties have also been studied.This paper reports four new 1D to 3D coordination networks based on MII/titb units (a discrete molecular cage, a ladder-like chain and two 2D sheets) pillared by “rod”.

Five new coordination networks, namely [Cu3(bimb)3(BTC)2] (1), [M(H2O)2(bimb)(SUC)] [M = CoII (2), MnII (3) and NiII (4)] and [Co(bimb)0.5(BDC)] (5) (bimb = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)-butane, H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, H2SUC = succinic acid and H2BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized hydrothermally and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and X-ray diffraction analyses. Complex 1 exhibits a binodal 3,4-tfz net with 3-fold interpenetration. Complexes 2–4 are isostructural, all showing 3-fold interpenetrated dia structures. Complex 5 is a 3-fold interpenetrated 3D network structure of the pcu topology that is built from tetra-carboxylate dinuclear Co2 units with a paddle-wheel structure. We examined all the related known structures containing the same mixed ligands and found that the reaction conditions play an important role in the final structure. Furthermore, the magnetic property of 5 has also been investigated.This paper reports five 3-fold interpenetrated coordination networks, including a 3,4-tfz network for 1, three dia structures for 2–4 and an architecture with the pcu topology for 5. We examined all the related known structures containing the same mixed ligands and found that the reaction conditions play an important role in the final structure.

Two new zinc coordination complexes, namely [Zn2(tib)4/3(L1)2]·DMA (1) and [Zn2(tib)4/3(L2)2]·H2O (2) (tib = 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene, H2L1 = biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid, H2L2 = 4,4′-(2,2′-oxybis(ethane-2,1-diyl)bis(oxy))dibenzoic acid and DMA = N,N-dimethylacetamide), are obtained using achiral mixed ligands and characterized using elemental analysis, IR and X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1 and 2 both display intriguing structural features of both interpenetration and self-catenation. By careful inspection of the two structures, we found that the Zn(II) cations, the tib ligands, and the dicarboxylic anions show the same coordination modes or analogous configurations. Compound 1 is chiral, which was confirmed by measuring the optical rotation of the bulk samples using solid-state circular dichroism (CD). It is comprised of two crystallographically independent interpenetrated 3D motifs, each containing interlaced triple-stranded right- and left-handed Zn–L1–Zn helical chains and chiral 2D [Zn(tib)2/3] layers. Both motifs display binodal (3,4)-coordinated 3D self-catenated networks with the point symbol (103)2(106)3 and the vertex symbols [1013·1013·1013] and [107·107·108·1010·1011·1011]. However, the two types of helical chains are not racemic due to the differences between the two kinds of L1 anions, and the two types of chiral 2D [Zn(tib)2/3]2+ layers are not enantiomeric either due to the different configurations of the tib ligands. Therefore, the two motifs are not enantiomers. Compound 2 is achiral, containing Zn–L2–Zn zigzag chains that span into three directions and chiral 2D [Zn(tib)2/3] layers. The overall 3D network is a new binodal (3,4)-coordinated self-catenated network with the point symbol (103)2(106)3 and the vertex symbols [107·107·107] and [102·104·105·105·105·105]. Two of these networks interpenetrate. Their chiral and achiral structures are mainly modulated by the length of the dicarboxylates. As expected, compounds 1 and 2 show photoluminescence behaviors and compound 1 shows a ferroelectric behavior. Thermogravimetric studies of 1 and 2 have also been performed. We examined all 48 known structures containing the tib ligand and drew the conclusion that the metal + tib combination, modulated by the prolonged L ligands, can be a good basis for new chiral and catenated structures.

Two new zinc coordination complexes, namely [Zn2(tib)4/3(L1)2]·DMA (1) and [Zn2(tib)4/3(L2)2]·H2O (2) (tib = 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene, H2L1 = biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid, H2L2 = 4,4′-(2,2′-oxybis(ethane-2,1-diyl)bis(oxy))dibenzoic acid and DMA = N,N-dimethylacetamide), are obtained using achiral mixed ligands and characterized using elemental analysis, IR and X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1 and 2 both display intriguing structural features of both interpenetration and self-catenation. By careful inspection of the two structures, we found that the Zn(II) cations, the tib ligands, and the dicarboxylic anions show the same coordination modes or analogous configurations. Compound 1 is chiral, which was confirmed by measuring the optical rotation of the bulk samples using solid-state circular dichroism (CD). It is comprised of two crystallographically independent interpenetrated 3D motifs, each containing interlaced triple-stranded right- and left-handed Zn–L1–Zn helical chains and chiral 2D [Zn(tib)2/3] layers. Both motifs display binodal (3,4)-coordinated 3D self-catenated networks with the point symbol (103)2(106)3 and the vertex symbols [1013·1013·1013] and [107·107·108·1010·1011·1011]. However, the two types of helical chains are not racemic due to the differences between the two kinds of L1 anions, and the two types of chiral 2D [Zn(tib)2/3]2+ layers are not enantiomeric either due to the different configurations of the tib ligands. Therefore, the two motifs are not enantiomers. Compound 2 is achiral, containing Zn–L2–Zn zigzag chains that span into three directions and chiral 2D [Zn(tib)2/3] layers. The overall 3D network is a new binodal (3,4)-coordinated self-catenated network with the point symbol (103)2(106)3 and the vertex symbols [107·107·107] and [102·104·105·105·105·105]. Two of these networks interpenetrate. Their chiral and achiral structures are mainly modulated by the length of the dicarboxylates. As expected, compounds 1 and 2 show photoluminescence behaviors and compound 1 shows a ferroelectric behavior. Thermogravimetric studies of 1 and 2 have also been performed. We examined all 48 known structures containing the tib ligand and drew the conclusion that the metal + tib combination, modulated by the prolonged L ligands, can be a good basis for new chiral and catenated structures.