Transformation of mixed anionic coordination polymers of lead

The coordination polymerization from lead(II) nitrate on reaction with 4-nitrobenzoic acid and pyridine N-oxide at room temperature passes through stepwise ligand substitution reaction. An intermediate polymer [Pb(NB)(PyO)2(NO3)]n (where NB = 4-nitrobenzoate, PyO = Pyridine N-oxide) is formed to give the final polymer [Pb(NB)2(PyO)]n. A hydrated mononuclear complex [Pb(NB)2(PyO)(H2O)] is also formed if rigorous anhydrous condition is not maintained. The reaction is extended to 4,4′-bipyridyl N-oxide (BPNO), which initially gives a coordination polymer [Pb2(NO3)(NB)3(BPNO)2]n which gets converted to another coordination polymer [Pb(NB)2(BPNO)2]n. All these complexes are structurally characterized.