Syntheses, structures, properties of a series of coordination polymers with flexible bis(imidazole) and dicarboxylate ligands

Seven coordination polymers, [Co(bix)(ndc)](n) (1), [Co2(bix)(glu)(2)](n) (2), {[Zn(bix)(male)].H2O](n) (3), [Zn-2(bix)(pim)(2)](n) (4), [Zn(bix)(aze)](n) (5), {[Zn(bix)(mbda)].H2O](n) (6) and [Zn(bix)(adc)](n) (7), were synthesized (bix = 1,4-bis(2-methyl-imidazol-1-methyl)benzene, ndc = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylate, glu = glutarate, male = maleicate, pim = pimelate, aze = azelaicate, mbda = 1,3-benzenediacetate, adc = 1,3-adamantanedicarboxylate). 1 shows an unusual 4-connected self-catenated 3D network. 2 is a 6-connected self-catenated 3D network based on the [Co2(COO)4] unit. 3 shows a special 2D (6,3) network, with six Zn(II) atoms at six corners and four bix and two double male ligands at six edges. 4 is a (3,4)-connected 3D network. 5 and 6 show the 2D (4,4) network. 7 consists of one-dimensional chains containing two alternative kinds of rings, [Zn-2(adc)(2)] and [Zn-2(bix)(2)]. The diverse structures indicate that the structures of the coordination polymers can be tuned by the right combination of appropriate flexible bis(imidazole) ligand, bix, the metal ions and dicarboxylate ligands. 1 and 2 are effective photocatalytic catalysts for the degradation of methyl orange. The luminescence of 3-7 and thermal stability of 1-7 were also investigated. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.