Metal–organic hybrid networks constructed with the 4,4′-bisimidazolylbiphenyl ligand

The ligand 4,4′-bisimidazolylbiphenyl has been used to prepare three new 2D hybrid networks: (C18H14N4)CuSO4 · H2O (1), (C18H14N4)2Ni(H2PO3)2 (2), and (C18H14N4)3Ni3(H2PO4)2(HPO4)2 · 4H2O (3). All structures have been fully elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The 2D hybrid sheets in crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 are packed in simple AAA stacking arrangement. Conversely, in 3 the sheets are interdigitated. The topologies of the two nickel-based networks are strongly dependant on the nature of the acid employed in the synthesis procedure.