From discrete metallacycle, cage to infinite chain: tuning the coordination frameworks by variation of the metal center or ligand functionality

Self-assembly of the angular dipyridyl-type ligand 2,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole or 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole with CuII or CuI ion affords discrete bimetallic macrocycle, trigonal-prismatic cage, or 1-D infinite chain array, respectively, suggesting that the nature of the metal center and ligand functionality play the key role in formation of the coordination supramolecular frameworks.