A novel two-dimensional cluster-based coordination polymer, namely [Ni8(OH)4(dpa)6(pyz)(H2O)6]·2H2O (1), where H2dpa = 1,1′-biphenyl-2,2′-dicarboxylic acid, pyz = pyrazine, was synthesized by methods of hydrothermal reaction and the crystal structure determined. In complex 1, two symmetry-related [Ni4(μ3-OH)2] tetrahedra that are bound by two μ3-OH− and held together by 12 bidentate bridging and bidentate chelate bridging carboxylates around the periphery, which leads to an interesting octanuclear [Ni8(μ3-OH)4] cluster, which are linked by dpa and pyz to generate a two-dimensional net. IR, elemental analysis and XRPD confirmed the phase purity of the bulk materials. Magnetic properties of 1 in the 300–2 K have been discussed, which reveal the occurrence of ferromagnetic interactions between nickelII ions.

•Four novel 2-arylethenyl-8-hydroxyquinoline Zn(II) complexes have been synthesized.•The aggregation behavior was investigated by 1H NMR, UV–vis and photoluminescence.•The photophysical properties can be tuned by introducing different substituents.A series of 2-arylethenyl-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands (A1–A4) with a trimethoxyphenyl, naphthyl, 2-fluoro-4-bromophenyl and anthracenyl group and their corresponding Zn(II) complexes (B1–B4) were synthesized and characterized by means of 1H NMR, ESI-MS, FT-IR and elemental analysis. A1 and A4 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The aggregation behavior of zinc salt and ligands in solution was investigated by several techniques, containing 1H NMR, UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL). The electronic nature and volume of arylethenyl substituents affect the absorption wavelength, the emission color, fluorescence lifetime, fluorescence quantum yield and thermostability of Zn(II) complexes. The experiments corroborated that the properties of Zinc(II) complexes can be tuned by introducing different functional substituents.Graphical abstract

One novel tetranuclear Cd(II) complex with formula [Cd4L6(NO3)2] (1) is accessible by solvothermal reaction of Cd(NO3)2 with a (E)-2-[2-(3-thienyl)ethenyl]-8-quinolinol ligand (HL), which was characterized by means of 1H NMR, ESI-MS, elemental analysis, IR and TGA. X-ray structural analysis indicated that 1 exhibited a double open cubane-like core structure, which was bridged by six 8-hydroxyquinolinate-based ligand. Rich aromatic stacking interactions and non-classical C–H···O weak interactions sustain the packing structure. The coordination behavior of cadmium salt and HL in solutions was performed by UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL). The experimental results corroborate that emission spectrum of the title complex in the solid state at room temperature gives strong yellow-green luminescence. In addition, the thermal stability, fluorescent lifetime, electronic calculation and quenching behaviors of C60 and EtBr-DNA interacted with the compound were also investigated.

Three complexes, namely [Cu(dpt)2(H2O)4]·2H2O (1), [Cu3I2(dpt)]n (2) and [Cu6Br3(dpt)3]n (3), have been obtained from the reactions of different copper salts with 1H-3,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole (Hdpt). Complex 1 is mononuclear such that the CuII atom exhibits an octahedral coordination geometry involving monodentate dpt ligands, being synthesized from CuII nitrate and Hdpt at ambient temperature, while the cuprous halide cluster-based coordination polymers 2 and 3 were prepared by solvothermal reactions of CuI or CuBr with Hdpt. Complex 2 consists of [Cu3I2]n chains, which are further connected by the μ4-dpt bridges to form a 4,6-connected three-dimensional coordination polymer. Complex 3 is a 3,3,9-connected net based on [Cu6Br3] building blocks, linked by μ3-dpt bridges. The photoluminescence properties of complex 2 in the solid state at ambient temperature have been investigated.

Three metal complexes [CuI6(atdm)6] (1), [CuI(Hatd)(H2atd)] (2) and [H3O][CoII4CoIII2Cl3(atd)6]·H2O (3) [atdm = 4-dimethylamino-6-anilino-1,3,5-triazine-2-thiolate, H2atd = 6-anilino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dithiol, atdH2 = 6-anilino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(1H,3H)-dithione] have been solvothermally synthesized. The luminescent complexes 1 and 2 provide remarkable structural diversity depending on different reaction solutions. Complex 1 consists of a discrete pseudohexagonal prismatic [Cu6S6] core that can be described as two stacked, chair-shaped [Cu3S3] rings bound together by the C–N bridges of the atdm ligands, in which the atdm ligand was generated via in situ amination of H2atd in the presence of DMF solution. Whereas complex 2 is a 2D (4,4) net based on single node CuI ions crystallized in acetonitrile, in which H2atd ligands exist in the thione form atdH2 and the partially deprotonated form atdH. Complex 3 has a two-fold interpenetrated (10,3)-a topological network based on unprecedented cobalt-centered trigonal-bipyramidal [Co6(atd)6] building blocks, linked by Cl− double-bridges and showing oriented effects of aniline side groups. IR spectra, elemental analyses and XRD analyses confirmed the phase-purities of the as-synthesized complexes. The photoluminescence properties of 1 and 2 in the solid state and the magnetic properties of 3 are investigated. A discussion of the crystal structures, as well as the coordination properties of the multifunctional sulfur-containing ligands upon different geometries of the central units, is also provided.

•Two new 3D cluster-based coordination polymers have been synthesized and characterized.•Novel cadmium hydroxide chains and polynuclear cadmium macrocycles have been successfully introduced.•Flexible phenylsuccinate ligand exhibits changeable coordination modes and side group effect.•The luminescent properties of these compounds were investigated at room temperature.Two new coordination polymers [Cd5(OH)2(psa)4(bpe)(H2O)2]n (1) and [Cd5(psa)5(bpp)(H2O)2]n (2) (H2psa = phenylsuccinic acid, bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane) have been synthesized by methods of hydrothermal reaction and their crystal structures determined. In 1, psa ligands act as changeable bridges bound to Cd atoms, resulting in the formation of a sublayer based on cadmium hydroxide chains comprising of Cd5(OH)2 units. The adjacent layers are pillared by bpe linkers forming a 3D condensed structure. 2 has a 3D structure based on cadmium carboxylate sublayer with polynuclear cadmium macrocycles, pillared by bpp ligands. The structure versatility indicates that the phenyl side groups of psa ligands play a crucial role in modulating the cluster-based coordination polymers. A discussion of the crystal structures, as well as the coordination behavior of psa ligand is provided. IR, elemental analysis and XRPD confirmed the phase purity of the bulk materials. The photoluminescent properties of 1 and2 in the solid state are also investigated.Graphical abstract

Two new CuI-phenanthrene-9-carbonitrile (phencn) based coordination polymers formulated with [CuI(phencn)]n (1) and [Cu2I2(phencn)]n (2) are easily accessible by the reaction of copper(I) iodide with phencn in different stoichiometric ratios of the reactants. 1 contains Cu2I2 double-stranded stair that can be regarded as two CuI zigzag single chains connected together via Cu―I bonds, while 2 consists of novel one-dimensional Cu6I6 hexagonal cage chain that can be conveniently described as two Cu2I2 double-stranded stairs connected together via Cu―I bonds. The monodentate phencn ligands regularly stack along both sides of the (CuI)n skeletons in 1 and 2. IR, elemental analysis and XRPD confirmed the phase purity of the bulk materials. The photoluminescent properties of 1 and 2 in the solid state at ambient temperature are also investigated.Syntheses, structures and photoluminescent properties of two new low-dimensional copper(I) iodide coordination polymers [CuI(phencn)]n (1) and [Cu2I2(phencn)]n (2) (phencn = phenanthrene-9-carbonitrile) are described in which Cu2I2 double-stranded stair and Cu6I6 hexagonal cage chain, supported by a monodentate ligand phenanthrene-9-carbonitrile, are revealed.Research Highlights► A comparative study of two new low-dimensional CuI coordination polymers is reported. ► The novel Cu2I2 stair and Cu6I6 hexagonal cage chain are found in complex 1 and 2. ► The stoichiometry of the reactants provides the structural diversity of complex 1 and 2. ► The mutual repulsion and steric hindrance of the phenanthrene rings is interesting. ► The photoluminescent properties of complex 1 and 2 are very well.

Three metal complexes [CuI6(atdm)6] (1), [CuI(Hatd)(H2atd)] (2) and [H3O][CoII4CoIII2Cl3(atd)6]·H2O (3) [atdm = 4-dimethylamino-6-anilino-1,3,5-triazine-2-thiolate, H2atd = 6-anilino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dithiol, atdH2 = 6-anilino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(1H,3H)-dithione] have been solvothermally synthesized. The luminescent complexes 1 and 2 provide remarkable structural diversity depending on different reaction solutions. Complex 1 consists of a discrete pseudohexagonal prismatic [Cu6S6] core that can be described as two stacked, chair-shaped [Cu3S3] rings bound together by the C–N bridges of the atdm ligands, in which the atdm ligand was generated via in situ amination of H2atd in the presence of DMF solution. Whereas complex 2 is a 2D (4,4) net based on single node CuI ions crystallized in acetonitrile, in which H2atd ligands exist in the thione form atdH2 and the partially deprotonated form atdH. Complex 3 has a two-fold interpenetrated (10,3)-a topological network based on unprecedented cobalt-centered trigonal-bipyramidal [Co6(atd)6] building blocks, linked by Cl− double-bridges and showing oriented effects of aniline side groups. IR spectra, elemental analyses and XRD analyses confirmed the phase-purities of the as-synthesized complexes. The photoluminescence properties of 1 and 2 in the solid state and the magnetic properties of 3 are investigated. A discussion of the crystal structures, as well as the coordination properties of the multifunctional sulfur-containing ligands upon different geometries of the central units, is also provided.