Hydrogen-bond-directed assemblies of [La(18-crown-6)(H2O)4](BiCl6)·3H2O and [Nd(18-crown-6)(H2O)4](BiCl6)·3.5H2O regulated by different symmetries

• Two ion-pair compounds based on 18-crown-6 were synthesized.
• They have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.
• The different hydrogen-bonded networks of them are investigated in detail.

The reactions of La2O3 or Nd2O3 with BiCl3 and 18-crown-6 in the presence of excessive hydrochloric acid afforded two ion-pair compounds, namely [La(18-crown-6)(H2O)4](BiCl6)·3H2O (1) and [Nd(18-crown-6)(H2O)4](BiCl6)·3.5H2O (2). Although these two compounds contain similar building blocks, they exhibit two distinct hydrogen-bonded networks, which are mainly induced by the slightly different geometries of their large-sized cationic [Ln(18-crown-6)(H2O)4]3+ components.

The different hydrogen-bond-directed assemblies of two ion-pair compounds that contain a similar formula are investigated in detail.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide