Various dicarboxylates induced six Zn(II)/Cd(II) coordination polymers containing a new benzoimidazolyl terpyridine ligand: syntheses, structural diversity, luminescence and gas adsorption properties.

• Six coordination polymers have been prepared under solvothermal conditions with a newly designed and synthesized ligand 4′-(4-(benzimidazol-1-yl)phenyl)−4,2′:6′,4′'-terpyridine (bimphtpy). • Various structures with 2D+2D→3D polycatenation (1 and 5), undulated 2D (2) or two-fold 2D→2D interpenetrated network (3) and uninterpenetrated 3D network (4 and 6) have been found. • The photoluminescence behaviors of complexes 1–6 have been investigated. • The activated complex 3 shows moderate CO 2 adsorption of 15.9 cm3 (STP)/g (0.7 mmol/g, 3.08 wt%). Six Zn(II)/Cd(II) coordination polymers (CPs), namely, {[Zn 2 (bimphtpy)(p -bdc) 1.5 (OH)]·(H 2 O) 0.5 } n (1), [Zn 2 (bimphtpy) 2 (tdc) 2 ] n (2), {[Zn(bimphtpy)(cpoa)]·4H 2 O} n (3), [Cd 2 (bimphtpy)(p -bdc) 2 (H 2 O)] n (4), {[Cd 2 (bimphtpy)(m -bdc) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·(H 2 O) 0.75 } n (5), and {[Cd(bimphtpy)(qda)]·H 2 O} n (6), constructed from N-heterocyclic ligand 4'-(4-(benzimidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-4,2':6',4''-terpyridine (bimphtpy) and five dicarboxylic acids, (p -H 2 bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H 2 tdc = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid, H 2 cpoa =4-carboxyphenoxyacetatic acid, m -H 2 bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H 2 qda = hydroquinone-o,o'-diacetic acid), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized mainly by single-crystal X-ray diffraction along with elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, PXRD and TG analysis. Complex 1 exhibits a 2D + 2D → 3D polycatenated framework with bilayers showing the uninodal 5-c (4,4)Ia topology if Zn 2 (CO 2)(OH) SBU (secondary building unit) are considered. Complex 2 reveals a 2D → 2D polycatenane of two-fold interpenetrated network with rods threading loops showing 63- hcb topology. Complex 3 presents a highly undulated 2D 44- sql sheet with thickness of about 18.5 Å. Complex 4 displays a single 3D network constructed by binuclear Cd 2 (CO 2) 4 O 2 SBU showing the uninodal 6-c pcu topology. Complex 5 features a 2D + 2D → 3D polycatenated framework showing an unidentified topology with point symbol of {42·6·72·9}{42·6}{6·72}{64·8·10}. Complex 6 shows a single 3D network constructed by binuclear Cd 2 O 4 C 2 SBU with 8-c cds topology. Moreover, the fluorescent properties of complexes 1–6 in the solid state at room temperature as well as the adsorption properties of complex 3 are also investigated, suggesting their potential applications as luminescence materials and gas adsorption selectivity materials. Six novel coordination polymers with fascinating 2D/3D architectures based on a newly designed and synthesized N-heterocyclic ligand 4′-(4-(benzimidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-4,2′:6′,4′'-terpyridine (bimphtpy), along with different dicarboxylates, and Zn(II)/Cd(II) ions have been prepared under solvothermal conditions, and the photoluminescence behaviors of complexes 1–6 and the gas adsorption property of complex 3 have been investigated. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]