Coordination geometry induced control of channel morphology in divalent metal pyridinedicarboxylate coordination polymers containing a kinked tethering organodiimine

Hydrothermal synthesis has afforded two 1-D coordination polymers with encapsulated water-molecular bearing voids, {[Ni(PDC)(dpa)(H2O)] · 2H2O} (1) and {[Zn(PDC)(dpa)] · 3H2O} (2, pictured) (PDC = 2,6-pyridinecarboxylate, dpa = 4,4′-dipyridylamine). The different coordination environments provoke marked differences in the sizes and morphologies of the incipient channels. Both materials irreversibly lose crystallinity upon dehydration.