pH- and mol-ratio dependent formation of zinc(II) coordination polymers with iminodiacetic acid: Synthesis, spectroscopic, crystal structure and thermal studies

Three novel zinc coordination polymers (NH4)n[Zn(Hida)Cl2]n (1), [Zn(ida)(H2O)2]n (2), [Zn(Hida)2]n·4nH2O (3) (H2ida=iminodiacetic acid) and a monomeric complex [Zn(ida)(phen)(H2O)]·2H2O (4) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. 1 and 2 form one-dimensional (1-D) chain structures, whereas 3 exhibits a three-dimensional (3-D) diamondoid framework with an open channel. The mononuclear complex 4 is extended into a 3-D supramolecular architecture through hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking. Interestingly, cyclic nonplanar tetrameric water clusters are observed that encapsulated in the 3-D lattice of 4. Based on 1H and 13C NMR observations, there is obvious coordination of complex 2 in solution, while 1 and 3 decompose into free iminodiacetate ligand. Monomer [Zn(ida)(H2O)3] (5) is considered as a possible discrete species from 2. These coordination polymers can serve as good molecular precursors for zinc oxide.