Seven entangled coordination polymers assembled from triphenylamine-based bisimidazole and dicarboxylates: interpenetration, self-penetration and mixed entanglement

Seven new entangled coordination polymers, namely, [Zn(sdc)(bita)] (1), [Zn(1,4-ndc)(bita)] (2), [Zn-2(bdc)(2)(bita)(2)] (3), [Zn-2(sda)(2)(bita)(2)] (4), [Cd(odc)(bita)]center dot 0.5H(2)O (5), [Cd-2(bpdc)(2)(bita)(2)] (6) and [Cd-3(bpdc)(3)(bita)(2)]center dot 2DMF (7) [bita = 4,4'-bisimidazyltriphenylamine, H(2)sdc = 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid, 1,4-H(2)ndc = naphthalene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, H(2)bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H(2)odc = 4,4'oxybisbenzoic acid, H(2)sda = 4,4'-stilbenedicarboxylic acid, H(2)bpdc = biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid], have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 exhibits a 2D -> 2D polycatenane of threefold interpenetrated sql networks. Compound 2 displays a four-fold interpenetration of a dia network in a [2 + 2] mode. Compound 3 features both polyrotaxane and polycatenane composed of two interlocked sets of hcb network. Compound 4 shows three-fold interpenetration of a pcu network. Compound 5 presents unusual two-fold interpenetration of a self-penetrating framework with (4(2)center dot 6 center dot 8(3)) topology. Compound 6 displays a 2D -> 3D polycatenane of three-fold interpenetrated sql networks. Compound 7 exhibits an unusual self-penetrating framework with (4(25)center dot 6(3)) topology. The thermal stabilities and photochemical properties of these compounds have also been studied.