Metal-directed syntheses of coordination polymers via in situ ligand reactions from the same precursor, 2-(1H-benzeimidazol-2-yl)-acetonitrile

Three new coordination polymers, [Co(HBit)2]n (1), [Mn(HBit)2]n (2) (H2Bit = 2-((1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole), and [CdCl(MBi)(HMBi)]n (3), (HMBi = 2-methyl-1H-benzo-[d]imidazole), have been hydrothermally synthesized via in situ ligand reaction. Compounds 1 and 2 are isomorphous and display interesting 3D chiral supramolecular frameworks constructed from one-dimensional 41 helical chains. Complex 3 possesses a one-dimensional coordination chain, which is further connected to a 2D layer by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. More interestingly, both H2Bit and HMBi ligands are in situ generated from the same precursor, 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-acetonitrile, and the formation may depend on the kind of metal ion. Furthermore, the solid-state luminescence of complex 3 was investigated at room temperature.