An unusual polythreaded coordination network self-assembled from 2D motifs with two distinct lateral arms

Self-assembly of the trigonal 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (H3btc) and copper salt in the presence of large trigonal N-containing ligand yields a fascinating entangled network, [Cu(Hbtc)(Htpba)]·1.5H2O (1) (Htpba = 4-([4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridin]-4′-yl) benzoic acid). Compound 1 exhibits a novel (2D → 3D) polythreaded network that is first assembled from 2D layers with two types of lateral arms. By inspection of the structure of 1, it is believed that the trigonal ligands with uncoordinated groups acting as dangling lateral arms play an important role in the formation of polythreaded network. The magnetic properties of compound 1 have been studied in the temperature range 2–300 K.