A novel Zn6Co3 cluster-based heterometallic coordination polymer with PMG3 − linker formed via in situ decarboxylation from H4PMIDA

•A novel Zn6Co3 cluster-based heterometallic complex was synthesized hydrothermally.•PMG3 − ligand was formed via in situ decarboxylation from original ligand H4PMIDA.•It features a 2D structure constructed by [Zn6Co3(PMG)6(H2O)4] pinwheel-like clusters.•There exists extensive O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds.•It exhibits a good fluorescent emission.

A novel Zn6Co3 cluster-based heterometallic coordination polymer, [Zn6Co3(PMG)6(H2O)4]·12H2O (1), has been hydrothermally synthesized, in which the PMG3 − (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycinate) as a multifunctional ligand was firstly formed via in situ decarboxylation from original ligand N-(phosphonomethyl)imino-diacetic acid during the hydrothermal reaction. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Its structure features a 2D framework constructed by [Zn6Co3(PMG)6(H2O)4] pinwheel-like heteronuclear clusters, which contains rings with two tropisms. Through extensive O–H⋯O hydrogen bondings, the adjacent 2D layered structure further extends into a 3D supramolecular network. Moreover, the solid-state fluorescence property of this complex has also been investigated at room temperature, which exhibits a good fluorescent emission.

Graphical abstractA novel Zn6Co3 cluster-based heterometallic coordination polymer, [Zn6Co3(PMG)6(H2O)4]·12H2O, was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, in which PMG3 − ligand was formed via in situ decarboxylation from original ligand H4PMIDA. It features a 2D layer constructed by [Zn6Co3(PMG)6(H2O)4] pinwheel-like heteronuclear clusters, which further extends into a 3D supramolecular network through extensive O–H⋯O hydrogen bonding.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide