Non-interpenetrated square-grid coordination polymers synthesized using an extremely long N,N'-type ligand.

Four new, non-interpenetrated square-grid coordination polymers, namely [Mn(L)2(NO3)2]infinity (1), [[Cd(L)2(NO3)2].solvate]infinity (2), [Cd(L)2(NO3)2]infinity (3), and [[Zn(L)2](BF4)2.(C6H6)2.564.(DMF)1.576.(MeOH, H2O)3.454]infinity (4), were synthesized using the new, extremely long N,N'-type ligand: 2,5-bis(4'-(imidazol-1-yl)benzyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene (L). The reaction of Cd(NO3)2 with L leads to two novel structures sharing the same framework composition, [Cd(L)2(NO3)2]infinity, which have different arrangements of L around the metal centers. Both the channel-containing structure and the nonporous structure can be formed by choice of the appropriate solvent system. Moreover, the less stable, channel-containing form readily converts into the more stable, condensed structure upon removal of the guest molecules from the channels.