Cadmium and zinc chain and cluster-based layered coordination polymers prepared from flexible-arm aromatic ortho-dicarboxylic acids and 4-pyridylnicotinamide

Hydrothermal reaction of a d10-metal nitrate salt, a flexible-arm aromatic ortho-dicarboxylic acid, and 4-pyridylnicotinamide (4-pna) afforded four new crystalline coordination polymers, which were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Cd(Hhmph)(nic)(H2O)2]n (1, hmph = homophthalate, nic = nicotinate) is a 1-D coordination polymer chain compound whose nic ligands were generated in situ via 4-pna hydrolysis. Addition of base and a shorter reaction duration afforded [Cd(hmph)(4-pna)]n (2), which has dinuclear [Cd2(hmph)2] dimers linked into a 1-D ladder polymer via 4-pna ligands. A similar chain structure, albeit with a different hmph binding mode, is seen in [Zn(hmph)(4-pna)]n (3). {[Zn2(phda)2(4-pna)2(H2O)]⋅H2O}n (4, phda = 1,2-phenylenediacetate) has both anti-syn bridged [Zn2(OCO)2] ring dimers and [Zn2(OCO)4] paddlewheel dimers, linked into a layered coordination polymer by dipodal 4-pna ligands. Luminescent properties of these new materials are also presented.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Four new coordination polymers with flexible-arm aromatic dicarboxylate ligands. ► Seldom used 4-pyridylnicotinamide coligand with hydrogen bonding ability. ► Thermally induced in situ ligand transformation to nicotinate in one case. ► Three 1-D chains and a rare 2-D layer with different dinuclear clusters. ► Emission of blue–violet light upon ultraviolet excitation.