An unprecedented 1-D mixed-valence Cu(II)/Cu(I) metal-organic framework bearing 2-phenyl imidazole dicarboxylates

An unprecedented mixed-valence Cu(I)/Cu(II) metal-organic framework {[Cu2(HPhIDC)(OH)]·H2O}n (H3PhIDC = 2-phenyl-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) (1) has been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, XPS spectrum and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In 1, each Cu(I) ion is two-coordinated by imidazole and OH−units. The HPhIDC2−ligands connect Cu(II) ions leading to a one-dimensional chain structure. The thermal properties of 1 are reported.