Metal-ligand directed assembly of 2-D cluster-based coordination polymer and its solvent mediated structural transformation

INOR 855

Abdou Lachgar, lachgar@wfu.edu, Jian-Jun Zhang, zhangjj@wfu.edu, Yue Zhao, zhaoy1@wfu.edu, and Aaron S Gamboa, gamboasa@wfu.edu. Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109

Reactions between [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- and [Mn(salen)]+ led to formation of [Mn2(salen)2(H2O)2][(Mn(salen))2(Nb6Cl12(CN)6)] (1). 1 is a 2D anionic 4,4-net built of [Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- and [Mn(salen)]+ with dimers [Mn2(salen)2(H2O)2]2+ as cation. Unusual solvent-mediated structural transformations have been observed when 1 is exposed to solutions of different cations. Thus, in contact with methanol solution of [Me4N]+ 1 undergoes solvent-mediated ion-exchange reactions to form (2). In contact with methanol solution of (Et3BzN)+ a mixture of [Et3BzN]2[{(Mn(salen)(MeOH))2(Nb6Cl12(CN)6)}] (3) and [Et3BzN]2[(Mn(salen))2(Nb6Cl12(CN)6)] (4)  are formed as crystals. 3 features same 2D anionic 4,4-net as that observed for 1 and 2 but different layer stacking and interlayer spacing. 4 consists of heterotrimeric supramolecular anions built of (Nb6Cl12(CN)6)4- linked to two [(Mn(salen)(H2O)]+. When 1 is left in methanol solution of Li+ (or Na+, K+, (Bu4N)+, PPh4+), or in neat solvents (MeOH or MeOH + H2O or MeCN), a heteropentamer built of (Nb6Cl12(CN)6)4- linked to four [(Mn(salen)(MeOH)]+ was obtained: [{(Mn(salen)(MeOH))4(Nb6Cl12(CN)6)}] (5).