Controlling the formation of discrete complexes or a 1-D directional coordination network by the binding ability of anions

Based on the coordination ability of ClO4-, BF4- and Cl- anions, a switch from discrete octahedral Co(II) complexes to a directional 1-D network was demonstrated using organic tectons based on a pyridine unit as a monodentate coordination site and a terpyridine moiety as a tridentate coordination pole; whereas with non-coordinating anions discrete mononuclear complexes were obtained, for Cl- anion a 1-D coordination network was obtained in the presence of CoCl2 under self-assembly conditions; the X-ray study on a single crystal revealed the centrosymmetric packing of the 1-D networks.