Topological control in coordination polymers by non-covalent forces

Reaction of Zn2+ salts with the terephthalate dianion results in a herringbone motif coordination polymer; the orientation of the terephthalate spacer ligands and the coordination geometry about the Zn2+ ion is crucially dependent on hydrogen bonding to ancillary ligands; replacement of coordinated water with ethylenediamine results in marked changes to the polymer orientation without disruption of the fundamental features of the material.