Oxoanion and cation effects on the structural morphology of coordination polymers incorporating a kinked organodiimine tethering ligand

Combination of divalent cobalt salts with the kinked and hydrogen-bonding capable organodiimine 4,4'-dipyridylamine (dpa) has afforded a family of coordination polymers where the anion plays a determining structure directing role. Use of the perchlorate salt results in the coordination polymer {[Co(H2O)(2)(dpa)(2)](ClO4)(2)center dot 2 dpa center dot 2 H2O} (1), which possesses cationic [M(H2O)(2)(dpa)(2)](n)(2n+) grid-like layer motifs. Unligated perchlorate anions, dpa molecules, and water molecules of crystallization are situated within the incipient rhomboid voids. Employing cobalt sulfate or nitrate as the metal source afforded {[Co(dpa)(2)(H2O)(SO4)]center dot 2 H2O} ( 2) and {[Co(dpa)(2)(H2O)(NO3)](NO3)} (3), which display related 3-D quadruply interpenetrated [Co(dpa)(2)]n(2)n(+) adamantoid frameworks. The cadmium perchlorate derivative {[Cd(H2O)(2)(dpa)(2)](ClO4)(2)center dot 2 dpa center dot 2 H2O} (4) displays a 2-D polymeric structure similar to that of 1. However 4 manifests a different layer stacking pattern from that in 1, revealing a subtle cation-based structure-directing effect. All materials were characterized via single crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis.