One-dimensional CuIand AgIladder-like coordination polymers supported by 2-ethyl-1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole

Abstract

The title complexes, poly[[bis[μ2-2-ethyl-1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole-κ2N1:N3]copper(I)] tetrafluoroborate acetonitrile monosolvate], {[Cu(C15H15N3)2]BF4·CH3CN}n, (I), and poly[[bis[μ2-2-ethyl-1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole-κ2N1:N3]silver(I)] perchlorate methanol monosolvate], {[Ag(C15H15N3)2]ClO4·CH3OH}n, (II), are isostructural and exhibit one-dimensional ladder-like structures in which each asymmetric unit contains one metal ion (Cu+or Ag+), two 2-ethyl-1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-1H-benzimidazole (bep) ligands, one counter-anion (tetrafluoroborate or perchlorate) and one interstitial molecule (acetonitrile or methanol). Each metal ion exhibits a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry consisting of two pyridyl and two benzimidazole N atoms from four distinct ligands. Two metal ions are linked by two bep ligands to form a centrosymmetric 18-memberedM2(bep)2metallacycle, while adjacentM2(bep)2metallacycles are further interlinked by another two bep ligands resulting in a ladder-like array. In the extended structure, four adjacent ladder-like arrays are connected together through C—H...F, O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds between bep ligands, solvent molecules and counter-anions into a three-dimensional supramolecular structure.