Post-synthetic modification of isomorphic coordination layers: exchange dynamics of metal ions in a single crystal to single crystal fashion.

A diverse set of guest molecules template the consistent formation of fifteen iso-structural layered structures containing a pyridine based tripodal ligand, divalent metal ions and anions. These materials have shown a remarkable ability to interconvert from Zn(II) to Cu(II), Cd(II) to Cu(II), Cu(II) to Cd(II) complexes in a SCSC (single crystal-to-single crystal) fashion.