Assembly, structures and properties of four Cu(II) coordination polymers based on a semi-rigid bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligand and different polycarboxylates

•Four Cu(II) MOCPs with various structures based on mixed ligands have been obtained.•The polycarboxylates play key roles in tuning the dimensionalities and structures.•The 1,4-H2NDC as the biggest guest molecule is in bis-pyridyl-bis-amide-based MOCP.•The fluorescent, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of 1–4 were reported.

Four new Cu(II) coordination polymers, namely, [Cu(3-bpah)(1,4-NDC)(H2O)]·3H2O (1), [Cu2(3-bpah)(1,4-NDC)2]·(1,4-H2NDC)·3H2O (2), [Cu(3-bpah)(3-NIP)] (3), [Cu(3-bpah)(1,3,5-HBTC)]·2H2O (4), where 3-bpah = N,N′-bis(3-pyridinecarboxamide)-1,2-cyclohexane, 1,4-H2NDC = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 3-H2NIP = 3-nitrophthalic acid, 1,3,5-H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The structures of 1–4 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and were further characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Complex 1 displays a 1D double strand. Complex 2 shows a 3D α-Po framework with 1,4-H2NDC guest molecules inside the cages. Complex 3 reveals a 2D wave-like network. Complex 4 exhibits a 2D sql topology. The structural discrepancies of complexes 1–4 imply that the O-donor ancillary ligands play an important role in the formation of the resultant structures of the title coordination polymers. The fluorescent, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of complexes 1–4 have been studied.

Graphical abstractFour new Cu(II) coordination polymers based on a semi-rigid bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligand and three aromatic polycarboxylates have been hydrothermally synthesized. The structural diversity indicates that the aromatic polycarboxylates play an important role in tuning the dimensionalities and structures of the title complexes. The fluorescent, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of complexes 1–4 have been studied.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide