Coordination chemistry of the nitro-terephthalate molecule, highlighting two new main group complexes

► New indium and lead nitro-terephthalate coordination compounds. ► Structural comparison with known bismuth and uranium nitro-terephthalate coordination compounds. ► Cations influence formation of clusters, layers, solvent-filled channels, or non-porous frameworks. ► Ligand-to-metal charge transfer based luminescence is quenched by the nitro-group.