Structural diversity in one-dimensional coordination polymers of a flexible multimodal ligand

Four one-dimensional coordination polymers were prepared by the reaction of a flexible multimodal ligand, bis(2-pyrazylmethyl)sulfide (L), with AgX salts (X = ClO4- or NO3) and CuI in a 2:1 M-to-L ratio and with AgCF3SO3 in a 1: 1 M-to-L ratio. The one-dimensional polymers showed considerable structural diversity and the influence of ligand conformation and anion on the formation of these coordination polymers was explored. A ladder-like polymer, 1, was formed with AgClO4 while a U-shaped chain, 2, was formed with AgNO3. An X-shaped chain, 3, was formed with AgCF3SO3 in which the Ag(I) ion adopted a square-planar geometry. A fused-loop chain, 4, was formed with CuI and these chains were stacked on top of each other to give large channels. Three different conformations and four different coordination modes of L were identified in these structures.