Novel silver-containing supramolecular frameworks constructed by combination of coordination bonds and supramolecular interactions.

The hydrothermal reactions of AgNO(3), 4,4'-bipy, and carboxylate ligands gave rise to three supramolecular architectures, namely [Ag(bipy)].H(2)SIPA.1/2bipy.H(2)O (1), [Ag(bipy)].1/2H(2)btec.H(2)O (2), and [Ag(bipy)](2).H(2)dpstc.2H(2)O (3) (H(3)SIPA = 5-sulfoisophthalic acid, bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine, H(4)btec = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid, H(4)dpstc = 3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxydiphenyl sulfone). All complexes are extended from Ag-bipy linear chains by the combination of coordination bonds and supramolecular interactions in two different approaches. Complexes 1 and 3 comprise two-dimensional frameworks. In the two complexes, a one-dimensional ladderlike structure is first formed by the connection of a Ag-bipy chain through hydrogen bonding between a free carboxylate/bipy ligand and weak coordinative interactions between a free carboxylate ligand and silver ion. The ladderlike structure is then extended to a two-dimensional layer architecture by pi...pi interactions between bipy ligands of the Ag-bipy chains. Complex 2 possesses a three-dimensional framework. The free H(2)btec(2)(-) ligands form a two-dimensional layer network by hydrogen-bonding interactions between protonated and deprotonated carboxylate groups; meanwhile, pi.pi interactions between bipy ligands of Ag-bipy chains also result in a two-dimensional layer. The two layers are further connected by weak Ag-O interactions to generate a three-dimensional supramolecular structure.