Two-level hierarchical entangled framework in a novel copper(I) coordination polymer with multiform helical features and unprecedented self-penetrated subnet

•One copper(I) cyanide polymer has been synthesized and characterized.•Two-level hierarchical entanglement with multiform helical features was exhibited.•An unprecedented self-penetrated 3D subnet was presented.•The nature of coordinate bonds was further confirmed by theoretical computation.•Complex 1 has good thermal stability and luminescent property.

One new copper(I) cyanide coordination polymer [Cu4(CN)4(tib)]n (1) (tib = 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene) has been solvothermally synthesized through a synchronous redox and self-assembly reaction of copper(II) utilized as starting material, and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, PXRD and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The result shows complex 1 possesses a novel two-level hierarchical entangled 3D framework coordination polymer with multiform helical features and an unprecedented self-penetrated subnet, which belongs to the Class IIa interpenetration. The 3D subnet of complex 1 can be classified as a (102.12)(103)3 topology. Moreover, the thermal and luminescent properties and the nature of coordinate bonds of complex 1 have also been investigated.

Graphical abstractA novel copper(I) cyanide complex have been successfully fabricated via in situ reaction of copper(II) salt, cyanide group and a rigid tris(imidazole) ligand under the solvothermal condition, which demonstrates a two-level hierarchical entangled framework with multiform helical motifs and an unprecedented self-penetrated subnet.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide