A new type of polythreaded network self-assembled from sidearm-containing 2D bilayer motifs based on tetracarboxylate and N-heterocyclic multipyridyl ligand

Hydrothermal reaction of zinc salt with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (H4btec) and 2,4,5-tri(4-pyridyl)-imidazole (Htpim) in the presence of NaOH affords a new entangled metal–organic polymer [Zn2(btec)(Htpim)2]·2H2O (1). Compound 1 displays a new (2D → 3D) polythreaded network that is obtained for the first time from the self-assembly from 2D bilayer frameworks with dangling lateral arms, in which each large rectangular cavity of one bilayer is threaded by two dangling lateral arms of two adjacent bilayers coming from two opposite directions. The photoluminescence of 1 is also discussed.