Reactions and reactivity of Co-bpdc coordination polymers (bpdc = 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylate)

By choosing a suitable metal center, ligand, and solvents, we have revealed several structural transformations involving a polymer precursor. infinity 1[Co(bpdc)(H2O)2].H2O (1) was prepared by reaction of Na2bpdc and Co(NO3)2 in aqueous solution. Immersing 1 in pyridine/water solutions of (2:1) and (8:1) ratios yielded a second one-dimensional structure infinity 1[Co(bpdc)(py)2(H2O)2].2py (2) and a two-dimensional structure infinity 2[Co(bpdc)(py)2].H2O (3), respectively. After heating 1 under N2 to remove all water within the structure, the compound Co(bpdc) (IR) was obtained. When IR was immersed in solutions of pyridine/water (5:4) and in pure pyridine (in air), a third one-dimensional structure of infinity 1[Co(bpdc)(py)2(H2O)2].2py.H2O (4) and 3, respectively, were obtained. Compounds 2-4 easily transformed to 1 when immersed in water. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic, space group C2/c with a = 6.950(1), b = 31.585(6), and c = 6.226(1) A, beta = 95.84(3) degrees, Z = 4. Crystal data for 2: triclinic, space group P1 with a = 9.646(2), b = 10.352(2), and c = 17.031(3) A, alpha = 79.02(3) degrees, beta = 86.88(3) degrees, gamma = 77.16(3) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 3: triclinic, space group P1 with a = 9.137(2), b = 10.480(2), and c = 12.254(2) A, alpha = 102.10(3) degrees, beta = 100.80(3) degrees, gamma = 99.43(3) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 4: orthorhombic, space group Pbcn with a = 13.468(3), b = 16.652 (3), and c = 14.977(3) A, Z = 4.