Entanglement of individual coordination polymers having helicates as building intermediates.

A series of Ag(I) coordination compounds, from one-dimensional chains to 3D porous frameworks, were achieved from N,N'-bis[1-(2-pyrazinyl)ethylidene]benzil dihydrazone, L, via self-assembly, using helicates as effective secondary building units. Compound 2 [(Ag(2.75)L)(NO(3))(2.75)] was comprised of two opposite-handed 3D frameworks formed by connecting the 4(1) helical chains into (10(3)-b) nets. The pairs of the racemic 3D frameworks were connected through additional silver(I) centers and entangled each other forming a racemic 3D net. Compound 3 [(Ag(13)L(8))(BF(4))(13)(H(2)O)(12)] was comprised of a 3D framework that was constructed from double-helical building intermediates Ag(2)L(2) with one-dimensional infinite chains being threaded into the large voids of a 3D framework to form a weave structure. The ladder-like chains in compound 4 [(Ag(3)L(2))(ClO(3))(3)(CH(3)OH)(2)(CH(3)CN)] were formed by the addition of excess NaClO(3) into the methanol solution containing AgNO(3) and the ligand L, and the zigzag chains in compound 5 [(Ag(2)L(2))(ClO(4))(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)] were constructed by the addition of excess NaClO(4) into an acetonitrile solution containing AgNO(3) and the ligand L.