A series of coordination polymers assembled from p-terphenyl-2,2″,2′′′,5,4″,4′′′-hexcarboxylic acid and various flexible imidazole derivatives: Synthesis, structures and luminescent properties

•Synthesized six MOFs with novel topology.•The carboxylic ligands contains carboxyl groups that are partially or completely involved in the assembly with metal ions and imidazole ligands.•Synthesized two structurally different compound 2 and 3 with the same reactants and reaction conditions.

Six novel coordination polymers, namely, [Cu1.5(H2L)0.5(H4L)0.5(bibp)1.5]·3H2O (1), [Zn1.5L0.5(bib)(H2O)]·4H2O (2), [Zn1.5L0.5(bib)1.5]·DMF (3), [Co0.5(H4L)0.5(bibpip)(H2O)]·3H2O (4), [Zn(H2L)0.5(tip)] (5), [Cu(H4L)0.5(H6L)0.5(tip)(H2O)]·2H2O (6), [H6L = p-terphenyl-2,2″,2′′′,5,4″,4′′′-hexcarboxylic acid, bibpip = 1,4-bis(4-(1H-imidazol-l-yl)benzyl)piperazine, bib = 1,4-bis(imidazolyl)butane], tib = 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene, bibp = 4,4′-bis(imidazol-1-yl)biphenyl, have been synthesized under solvothermal and hydrothermal conditions. Their structures have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, Infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Compound 1 exhibits an infinite 3D structure with (52·62·7·8)(53·6·72) topology. Compound 2 features an unusual structure exhibiting (3,4,6)-connected 3D framework with (52·64)(52·6)2(54·66·72·8·92) topology. Compound 3 shows (4,6)-connected 3D framework with (52·6·7·82)2(55·7)(56·62·74·83) topology. Compound 4 views of 2D sheets. Compound 5 exhibits an unusual two-fold interpenetrating 3D framework with (64·82)(66)2 topology. Compound 6 shows (3,4)-connected binodal 2D net with the (42·6)(42·63·8) topology. Their photochemical properties were measured.

Graphical abstractSix new coordination polymers with novel architectures have been synthesized successfully under hydrothermal conditions with different solvents and decreased temperature rates by using multicarboxylate ligands and the various N-donor ligands as auxiliary ligands. Compound 1 exhibits an infinite 3D structure with (52·62·7·8)(53·6·72) topology. Compound 2 features an unusual structure exhibiting (3,4,6)-connected 3D framework with (52·64)(52·6)2(54·66·72·8·92) topology. Compound 3 shows (4,6)-connected 3D framework with (52·6·7·82)2(55·7)(56·62·74·83) topology. Compound 4 views of 2D sheets. Compound 5 exhibits an unusual two-fold interpenetrating 3D framework with (64·82)(66)2 topology. Compound 6 shows (3,4)-connected binodal 2D net with the (42·6)(42·63·8) topology. Their photochemical properties were measured.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide