o-, m-, and p-Pyridyl isomer effects on construction of 1D loop-and-chains: Silver(I) coordination polymers with Y-type tridentate ligands

•Self-assembly of AgPF6 with Y-type tridentate o-, m-, and p-L was carried out.•A series of loop-and-chain 1D coordination polymers have been synthesized.•N-Position of L effects on coordination, thermal properties, and solvent recognition.•Solvate molecules can be removed and re-adsorbed without collapse of structures.

Self-assembly of silver(I) hexafluorophosphate with unique Y-type tridentate ligands (2,6-bis[(2-picolinoyloxy-5-methylphenyl)methyl]-p-tolylpicolinate (o-L), 2-nicotinoyloxy- (m-L), and 2-isonicotinoyloxy- (p-L)) produces single crystals consisting of 1D loop-and-chain coordination polymers of [Ag(o-L)](PF6)·Me2CO·CHCl3, [Ag(m-L)](PF6)·Me2CO, and [Ag3(p-L)2](PF6)3·2H2O·2C2H5OH·4CH2Cl2 with quite different trigonal prismatic, trigonal, and linear silver(I) coordination geometry, respectively. Coordinating ability of the three ligands for AgPF6 is in the order of p-L > o-L > m-L. The solvate molecules of [Ag(o-L)](PF6)·Me2CO·CHCl3 can be removed, and be replaced reversibly in the order of acetone ≫ chloroform ≈ dichloromethane ≫ benzene, without destruction of its skeleton.

Graphical abstractA series of one dimensional (1D) coordination polymers, [Ag(o-L)](PF6)·Me2CO·CHCl3, [Ag(m-L)](PF6)·Me2CO, and [Ag3(p-L)2](PF6)3·2H2O·2C2H5OH·4CH2Cl2 ((2,6-bis[(2-picolinoyloxy-5-methylphenyl)methyl]-p-tolylpicolinate (o-L), 2-nicotinoyloxy- (m-L), and 2-isonicotinoyloxy- (p-L))), have been synthesized via self-assembly.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide