Syntheses and crystal structures of four 1-D or 2-D coordination polymers based on 1-((benzotriazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-1,3-imidazole

In this paper, four coordination polymers, {[Ag(bmi)]·NO3}n (1), [Co(N3)2(bmi)2]n (2), [Cu(SCN)2(bmi)2]n (3), and {[Cu(bmi)2(CH3OH)(H2O)]·(ClO4)2}n (4) have been synthesized through the reactions of an unsymmetrical ligand 1-((benzotriazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-1,3-imidazole (bmi) with Ag(I), Co(II) and Cu(II) salts at room temperature. X-ray diffraction analyses showed that compound 1 exhibits double-stranded helical chain. Compounds 2–4 display 2-D rhombus grid network structure. The rhombus grid consists of 32-membered rings, and gives the dimensions of ca. 8.9 × 8.9 Å for compound 2, ca. 10.1 × 10.1 Å for compound 3, and ca. 9.7 × 9.5 Å for compound 4. In addition, the 2-D layers of compound 3 are stacked into 3-D structure via π–π interactions, while the 3-D architecture of compound 4 is realized through complicated hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions. The thermal analyses of compounds 1 and 3 indicate that they have high thermal stability and are stable up to 259 °C.

► An unsymmetrical ligand 1-((benzotriazol-1-yl)methyl)-1H-1,3-imidazole.
► Four new 1-D or 2-D coordination polymers.
► Their structures are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.
► The metal ions can influence the structures of the polymers.