A single-helix coordination polymer with mixed ligands [Zn2(phen)2(e,a-cis-1,4-chdc)2(H2O)2]n (phen=1,10-phenanthroline; chdc=cyclohexanedicarboxylate)

A coordination polymer with mixed ligands [Zn2(phen)2(e,a-cis-1,4-chdc)2(H2O)2]n (chdc=cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; phen=1,10-phenanthroline) was prepared under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, TG analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray crystal structural analyses reveal that 1 and 2 are isomorphic and belong to the monoclinic system. C40H36Zn2N4O10, P21/c, a=10.084(2) Å, b=8.9072(18) Å, c=20.276(4) Å, β=99.92(3)°, V=1793.9(6) Å3, Z=1. In the structures of 1, the 1,4-chdc ligand possesses only one kind of e,a-cis-conformation although there are both cis- and trans-conformations in the raw material. Two oxygen atoms of one carboxyl in 1,4-chdc ligand and another oxygen atom of contraposition carboxyl link adjacent Zn atoms into an infinite 1D zigzag chain. The most attractive structural feature of 1 is that it exhibits an infinite chiral chain-like structure with 21 helices along the b-axis. In addition, the right- and left-handed chains are alternate. Meanwhile, the adjacent chains of 1 is linked via hydrogen bonds into 2D network structures, which further form 3D frameworks via π–π interactions of 1,10-phen.