3D Ag(I) coordination polymer sandwiched by water-muconate anionic layers: Synthesis, structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, binding with BSA, and photocatalytic activity

The sonochemical reaction between silver salt, 1,3-bis(4-pyridylpropane (bpp) and trans,trans-muconic acid (H2muc) formed an Ag(I) coordination polymer with a 3D supramolecular sandwich architecture, {[Ag8(bpp)8(H2O)3].(muc)4.29(H2O)}n, (1) consisting of the silver-bpp cationic host that alternates with 2D water-muc guest anionic layers. The latter is formed by H-bonded water molecules-anions comprising hexagonal (H2O)6 clusters. The Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint plots have been used to quantify the weak intermolecular interactions in the crystal packing arrangement. The study showed that intermolecular hydrogen bonds are the most critical in constructing the titled supramolecular complex, accounting for 51.2% of the total Hirshfeld surface. Several spectrofluorimetric methods have been employed to investigate the binding interaction between Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and the titled complex. The complex induced significant fluorescence quenching of BSA, indicating a strong binding affinity for the protein. Static or ground state complex formation was envisaged as the primary quenching mechanism when the complex interacts with BSA. In addition, the Ag compound also offers photocatalytic properties by degrading the toxic organic methylene blue dye.