Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure and properties of Ag(I)-4f compounds based on 1H-benzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxylic acid.

Seven novel heterometallic coordination polymers [CeAg(Hbidc)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (1) and [LnAg(Hbidc)(2)]·3(H(2)O)[Ln = Sm (2), Gd (3), Tb (4), Dy (5), Ho (6), Er (7), H(3)bidc = 1H-benzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxylic acid] have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, TG analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. X-Ray analysis revealed that the seven complexes present two different types of three-dimensional (3D) structures. Complex 1 crystallized in an orthorhombic manner having a Pna2(1) space group, consisting of a 3D framework with a 1D heterometallic chain. Polymers 2-7 are isostructural and crystallized in an orthorhombic fashion having a Pccn space group existing of a two-fold interpenetrating 3D framework. The luminescence properties and the magnetic properties of all polymers were investigated.