Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of LaIII and CuII coordination polymers with 5-nitroisophthalic acid (H2Nip), [La2(μ-NiP)(μ-SO4)2(H2O)5]n and {[Cu3(μ-OH)2(μ-NiP)2(μ-H2O)2]•2H2O}n

3D La-III and 2D Cu-II coordination polymers with 5-nitroisophthalate anions, [La-2(mu-Nip) (mu-SO4)(2)(H2O)(5)](n) (1) and {[Cu-3(mu-OH)(2)(mu Nip)(2)(mu-H2O)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O}(n) (2) have been synthesized, characterized and studied by X-ray crystallography. The La atoms have eight-coordinate geometries in distorted square antiprism environments and the Cu atoms have five- and six-coordinate geometries with distorted square pyramidal anti octahedral environments. Self-assembly of these compounds in the solid state occurs through coordination and hydrogen bonding.