Restraining the motion of a ligand for modulating the structural phase transition in two isomorphic polar coordination polymers.

A structural phase transition induced by ligand motion was found in a new polar coordination polymer: [Cu(NCS)2(4-APy)2]n (4-APy = 4-aminopyridine). Restraining such motion in an isomorphic compound [Cu(NCS)2(4-MeAPy)2]n (4-MeAPy = 4-methylaminopyridine) results in distinct phase transition behaviour. These findings provide a new clue for modulating phase transition behaviour in known materials.