Synthesis and structural characterization of new bismuth (III) nano coordination polymer: A precursor to produce pure phase nano-sized bismuth (III) oxide

•A new bismuth (III) coordination polymer was synthesized and characterized.•Nanorods of Bi (III) coordination polymer were obtained by sonochemical method.•The supramolecular features are controlled by π–π intermolecular interactions.•The Bi2O3 nanoparticles were obtained by thermolysis of coordination polymer.

A novel bismuth (III) nano coordination polymer, {[Bi (pcih)(NO3)2]⋅MeOH}n (1), (“pcih” is the abbreviations of 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde isonicotinoylhydrazoneate) were synthesized by a sonochemical method. The new nano-structure was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. Single crystalline material was obtained using a heat gradient applied to a solution of the reagents. Compound 1 was structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The determination of the structure by single crystal X-ray crystallography shows that the complex forms a zig–zag one dimensional polymer in the solid state and the coordination number of BiIII ions is seven, (BiN3O4), with three N-donor and one O-donor atoms from two “pcih” and three O-donors from nitrate anions. It has a hemidirected coordination sphere. The supramolecular features in these complexes are guided and controlled by weak directional intermolecular interactions. The chains interact with each other through π–π stacking interactions creating a 3D framework. After thermolysis of 1 at 230 °C with oleic acid, pure phase nano-sized bismuth (III) oxide was produced. The morphology and size of the prepared Bi2O3 samples were further observed using SEM.

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