Hydrothermal Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Characterization of Two Zinc(II) Complexes Containing Flexible Bis(benzimidazole) Ligands

Two zinc(II) complexes, namely, [Zn(L-1)Cl-2] 2 (1) and {[Zn(L-2)(tbta)]center dot 3H(2)O}(n) (2) (L-1 = 1,3-bis(2-methylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl) benzene, H(2)tbta = tetrabromoterephthalic acid, L-2 = 1,3-bis(2-methylbenzimidazol-1-yl)-2-propanol), have been successfully obtained under hydrothermal conditions. Complex 1 displays a binuclear structure which is further extended into a 1D supramolecular chain through pi-pi stacking. Complex 2 features a 2D (4,4) network based on a L-2/tbta(2-) double linker. The thermal stability, fluorescence properties and catalytic activities of two complexes for the degradation of methyl orange in a Fenton-like process were discussed.