Synthesis and crystal structure of catena-poly[Rh2(OAc)4(C27H15N3)]⋅2CH2CL2, a novel Rh(II) organic/inorganic coordination polymer

A new coordination polymer, catena-poly[Rh2(OAc)4(C27H15N3)]⋅2CH2Cl21 has been synthesized by self-assembly from Rh2(OAc)4 dimer units and the new ligand, 1,3,5-tris[(2-pyridyl)ethenyl]benzene 2. The compound was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and was found to crystallize in the triclinic space group P-1, with a = 10.8206(9) Å, b = 14.0331(12) Å, c = 15.0901(12) Å, α = 113.965(2)°, β = 100.250(2)°, γ = 90.462(2)°, and Z = 2. The one-dimensional polymer contains two crystallographically different Rh-dimer units, both located about crystallographic inversion centers. Each Rh2(OAc)4 unit connects in a trans fashion with the potentially tridentate ligand giving an overall 1:1 metal dimer-to-ligand ratio. This arrangement leaves a third nitrogen donor site on the ligand uncoordinated.