Metal-ion induced alignment of an orthogonal anthracene-pyrimidine derivative. Cooperation of metal coordination, hydrogen bonding, and aromatic stacking in the buildup of one-, two- and three-dimensional networks

9-(5-Pyrimidinyl)anthracene (1) forms a ternary adduct 1 . Cd(NO3)(2) . 2(CH3OH), the crystal structure of which shows a remarkable cooperation of metal coordination, hydrogen bonding and aromatic stacking interactions in the hierarchical formation of one-, two- and three-dimensional networks. Ditopic pyrimidine ligands and cadmium ions form a pyrimidine-Cd2+ alternate copolymeric chain. The chains are held together to give a sheet by extensive cross-links via hydrogen bonding between metal-bound nitrate ions of one chain and methanol molecules of the neighboring one. The sheets are self-assembled via stacking, interpenetration or intercalation of the orthogonal anthracene side arms on both sides of a sheet. This gives rise to a layered structure having an alternate arrangement of inorganic and organic sheets; the former contains Cd2+ ions two-dimensionally networked by pyrimidine bridges and hydrogen-bonded nitrate-methanol links, while the latter is composed of tightly-packed anthracene columns.