Physical stability vs. chemical lability in microporous metal coordination polymers:: a comparison of [Cu(OH)(INA)]n and [Cu(INA)2]n:: INA=1,4-(NC5H4CO2)

Two microporous copper isonicotinate polymers [Cu( OH)(INA)] and [Cu(INA)(2)] have been formed hydrothermally in good yield and purity; each have 1D channels of ca. 4 x 6 Angstrom dimension, but with quite different hydrophilicities; both frameworks retain structural integrity to above 200 degreesC, however whilst [Cu(OH)(INA)] is also chemically stable, [Cu(INA)(2)] is highly labile and readily transforms to the molecular complex [Cu(INA)(2)(H2O)(4)] in water at room temperature.