A new one-dimensional Cd II coordination polymer incorporating 2,2'-(1,2-phenylene)bis(1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylate).

Imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (H3 IDC) and its derivatives are widely used in the preparation of new coordination polymers owing to their versatile bridging coordination modes and potential hydrogen-bonding donors and acceptors. A new one-dimensional coordination polymer, namely catena-poly[[diaquacadmium(II)]-μ3 -2,2'-(1,2-phenylene)bis(1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylato)], [Cd(C16 H6 N4 O8 )0.5 (H2 O)2 ]n or [Cd(H2 Phbidc)1/2 (H2 O)2 ]n , has been synthesized by the reaction of Cd(OAc)2 ·2H2 O (OAc is acetate) with 2,2'-(1,2-phenylene)bis(1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) (H6 Phbidc) under solvothermal conditions. In the polymer, one type of Cd ion (Cd1) is six-coordinated by two N atoms and two O atoms from one H2 Phbidc4- ligand and by two O atoms from two water molecules, forming a significantly distorted octahedral CdN2 O4 coordination geometry. In contrast, the other type of Cd ion (Cd2) is six-coordinated by two N atoms and two O atoms from two symmetry-related H2 Phbidc4- ligands and by two O atoms from two symmetry-related water molecules, leading to a more regular octahedral coordination geometry. The Cd1 and Cd2 ions are linked by H2 Phbidc4- ligands into a one-dimensional chain which runs parallel to the b axis. In the crystal, the one-dimensional chains are connected through hydrogen bonds, generating a two-dimensional layered structure parallel to the ab plane. Adjacent layers are further linked by hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional structure in the solid state.