Two novel three-dimensional coordination polymers based on metal clusters: Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures and luminescence

Two novel coordination polymers with interesting supramolecular architecture, [Zn2(OH)(BTC)(bix)] (1) and [Cd2(CDC)2(bix)2] (2) (H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, H2CDC = trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and bix = 1,2-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) have been obtained via hydrothermal reaction and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 features a 3D network with one of the scarce (3,8)-connected (43)2(46.618.84) topology based on the rare CdI2-type layer constructed from secondary building units (SBUs) of zinc clusters. While 2 exhibits a scarcely reported eight-connected 36.416.56 net with dinuclear cadmium clusters as secondary building units. The luminescent properties of 1 and 2 along with the bix ligand in the solid state were investigated.