Rapid mechanochemical protocol for isostructural polycatenated coordination polymers [M(BrIP)(BIX)] (M = Co(II), Zn(II))

Two dual ligand isostructural coordination polymers [Co(BrIP)(BIX)]n (1) and [Zn(BrIP)(BIX)]n (2), where BrIP = 5-bromoisophthalate and BIX = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-benzene, have been efficiently synthesized by liquid assisted grinding methods. Single crystals of 1 were harvested by the solvothermal technique and phase pure 1 or 2 can be quantitatively obtained by grinding equimolar amounts of the metal nitrates and the ligands, 5-bromoisophthalic acid (H2BrIP) and 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-benzene (BIX) in the presence of a few drops of water or methanol. Use of freshly prepared Co(OH)2 or ZnO also yields the desired end products in an environmentally friendly manner along with the benign by-product water. The structure of 1 was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, in addition to other physicochemical techniques. Morphological aspects of samples of 1 and 2 obtained via different protocols have also been studied.