A flexible bipyridyl-type linking ligand and its coordination polymers of cobalt, zinc and cadmium: [Co(L)(NO(3))(2)], [Zn(L)(NO(3))(2)], [CdL(2)(NO(3))(2)] and [CdL(2)(NO(3))(2)](C(6)H(6))(2) (L = (4-py)-CH(2)-NH-(CH(3))C(6)H(3)-C(6)H(3)(CH(3))-NH-CH(2)-(4-py))

Abstract

A long, flexible bipyridyltype linking ligand L [(4py)-CH(2)-NH-(CH(3))C(6)H(3)-C(6)H(3)(CH(3))-NH-CH(2)-(4-py)], which possesses two terminal 4-pyridyl groups, was prepared by reducing its parent diimine ligand (4-py)-CH=N-(CH(3))C(6)H(3)-C(6)H(3)(CH(3))-N=CH-(4-py). Four novel polymeric species based on L, [Co(L)-(NO(3))(2)] (1), [Zn(L)(NO(3))(2)] (2), [CdL(2)(NO(3))(2)] (3) and [CdL(2)(NO(3)](2)](C(6)H(6))(2) (4), could be synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Whereas polymers 1 and 2 have a 1D zigzag-chain structure, polymers 3 and 4 have a 2D network structure. The N center dot center dot center dot N separation between the two pyridyl groups in L (the free ligand) is 19.871(3) angstrom, whereas this distance varies from 11.934(4) to 16.373(8) angstrom in its coordination polymers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.