A novel 2-D metal‐organic layer containing helical double channels based on nickel, 1,4-bis(imidazol)butane, and in situ oxalic acid ligand

An unusual coordination polymer [Ni(ox)(bib)]n (bib = 1,4-bis(imidazol) butane; ox = C2O42 −) (1) with helical double channels has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, XRD, TG and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In structures of 1, Ni(II) cations are bridged by oxalic acid ligand to form infinite 1D wave chain, in which oxalic acid ligand is generated from the 1,4-bis (imidazol)butane precursor via catalytic oxidation of NH4VO3. These chains are further connected via bib linkers to form two-dimensional (2D) layers. Within each layer, large three-dimensional voids are formed by four Ni(II) centers, two oxalic acid and two bib linkage unit. Furthermore, the photoluminescence properties and magnetic behavior of 1 have been investigated.