Hydrothermal Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Two Metal Complexes with Mixed 1,2,4-Benzenetricarboxylic Acid and 1,3,5-Tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene Ligands

Two new coordination complexes [Co(1,2,4-HBTC)(tib)] (1) and [Ni-4(1,2,4-BTC)(2)(tib)(4)(H2O)(2)]center dot(1,2,4-HBTC)center dot 9H(2)O (2) (1,2,4-H3BTC=1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, tib=1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene) were obtained by hydrothermal reactions of 1,2,4-H3BTC and tib with corresponding metal salts. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that each tib ligands connect three metal atoms to form two-dimensional (2D) networks in 1 and 2. On the other hand, each 1,2,4-HBTC2- coordinates to one Co(II) atom as a terminal ligand in 1, while in 2, two 1,2,4-BTC3- ligands link four Ni(II) atoms which further connect [Ni(tib)](2+) 2D networks to result in formation of multi-layered 2D structure. Complexes 1 and 2 are finally extended to three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structures by hydrogen bonding interactions. CCDC: 816549, 1; 815931, 2.