Solvent exchange and discrimination in crystalline state. Formation and properties of copper(II) complexes containing 2,3-bis(isonicotinoyloxy)naphthalene

Self-assembly of copper(II) nitrate with 2,3-bis(isonicotinoyloxy)naphthalene (L) in a mixture of acetonitrile and dichloromethane produces a 30-membered discrete metallacyclodimer, [Cu(NO3)2(L)]2, while the self-assembly in a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide and CH2Cl2 and a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide and dioxane yields 1D coordination polymers consisting of [Cu(NO3)2(L)2]⋅4CH2Cl2 and [Cu(NO3)2(L)2]⋅3dioxane, respectively. Recrystallizations of [Cu(NO3)2(L)]2 from N,N-dimethylformamide/CH2Cl2 and N,N-dimethylformamide/dioxane lead to [Cu(NO3)2(L)2]⋅4CH2Cl2 and [Cu(NO3)2(L)2]⋅3dioxane, respectively. Constructions of the two skeletons, metallacyclodimer and 1D coordination polymer, are determined by solvents rather than synthetic methodologies. For [Cu(NO3)2(L)2]⋅4CH2Cl2 and [Cu(NO3)2(L)2]⋅3dioxane, exchange of the solvate molecules in the crystalline solids is carried out, and the 1D skeletal structure discriminates dioxane and CH2Cl2 molecules.