Formation of one-dimensional metal–water chain containing discrete water octamers

Discrete water octamers containing 1D metal–water chains have been observed in the complex of [Tb2(bpdc)(Pic)2(OH2)12](Pic)2 · 4H2O · (CH3OH)2 (Pic = picrate, bpdc = 2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′-dicarboxylate) (1). The water clusters are trapped by the cooperative association of coordinate interactions as well as hydrogen bonds. The intermolecular interaction is robust enough to really act as a ‘supramolecular glue’ to assemble the binuclear coordination complex and picratol into three-dimensional arrays.

Graphical abstractWe have observed discrete water octamers which are trapped not only by an organic molecule via hydrogen bonds but also by the metal ion via coordination interactions. The cooperative association among the metal ion, the water molecule, and the organic molecule plays a crucial role in the formation of multidimensional architecture and the water cluster.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide