Solvent effects on the formation of different cadmium compounds from CdSO4, HCl and 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene

Solvothermal reactions of CdSO4·8/3H2O with 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (titmb) and HCl in H2O, MeOH or EtOH afforded three coordination complexes [Cd5Cl2(μ-Cl)4(μ3-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2(H2O)2(Htitmb)2]n (1), [Cd4Cl2(μ-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2(MeOH)2(titmb)2]n (2) and [Cd4Cl2(μ-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2] (3), respectively. All the compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 has a 1D chain in which each centrosymmetric double butterfly-shaped [Cd5Cl2(μ-Cl)4(μ3-Cl)2(H2O)2] unit interlinks with its equivalent ones via two couples of η,η,η-μ3-SO4 anions and two pairs of the Htitmb ligands. Compound 2 consists of one centrosymmetric [Cd5Cl2(μ-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2(MeOH)4(titmb)2] unit that interconnects with equivalent ones via sharing Cd3 and its symmetry-related ones, forming a 1D zigzag chain. Compound 3 consists of a [Cd4Cl2(μ-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2] unit linked by a pair of titmb ligands. The results may provide some insight into solvent effects on the formation of different coordination compounds from the same components.

Graphical AbstractReactions of CdSO4·8/3H2O with 1,3,5-tris(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (titmb) and HCl in 1:1:1 molar ratio in H2O, MeOH or EtOH under solvothermal conditions gave rise to three different coordination complexes [Cd5Cl2(μ-Cl)4(μ3-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2(H2O)2(Htitmb)2]n, [Cd4Cl2(μ-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2(MeOH)2(titmb)2]n and [Cd4Cl2(μ-Cl)2(η,η,η-μ3-SO4)2], respectively. The three complexes were structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray crystallography.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights► Reactions of CdSO4, titmb and HCl in three solvents gave three complexes. ► Compound 1 is a 1D chain polymer. ► Compound 2 is a 1D zigzag chain polymer. ► Compound 3 is a tetranuclear Cd compound. ► Solvent effects on forming different complexes from the same components were found.