Syntheses, Structures, Fluorescence and Heterogeneous Catalysis of Coordination Polymers with 4-Benzoimidazol-1-yl-methyl Benzoic Acid and 2,2′-Dipyridine

Two coordination polymers called [Ni(L)(2)](n) (1) and [Ni(2,2'-bPY)(2)2(H2O)], (2) (HL = 4-benzoimidazol-1-yl-methyl benzoic acid, 2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-dipyridine) were synthesized by solvothermal reaction simultaneously and characterized by elemental analyses, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c with a = 14.673(3), b = 10.773(2), c = 16.566(3) angstrom, V = 2559.2(8) angstrom(3), Z = 4 and F(000) = 1160. 2 also crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a = 15.404(3), b = 12.652(3), c = 6.5362(13) angstrom, V= 1246.2(5) angstrom(3), Z = 4 and F(000) = 712. The bridging L ligand connects the Ni-II cations into a 2D network in complex 1, while 2 shows a 1D structure formed through the two O atoms of SO42- ions connecting the molecule. The catalytic properties indicate that complex 1 shows good catalytic activities for the cyanosilylation of 4-chlorobenzaldehyde. In addition, fluorescence property of complex 1 which quenches the excitation intensity in solid state was investigated at room temperature.