Supramolecular networks constructed by mono-, bi- and polynuclear complexes incorporating uncoordinated 1,10-phenanthroline and water clusters

Three supramolecular compounds, [Mn2(chda)(phen)4(H2O)]·(ClO4)2·phen·4H2O (1), [Cu(mal)(bipy)]n·2nH2O (2) and [Cu(ca)2(bipy)]·2H2O (3) (chda = 1,1-cyclohexanediacetate, mal = maleate, Hca = cyanuric acid, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, thermal analyses and X-ray structural analyses. Compound 1 is a carboxylate-bridging binuclear complex incorporating uncoordinated 1,10-phenanthroline bonded by hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions. Compound 2 is a 1D zigzag chain carboxylate coordination polymer incorporating cyclic (H2O)4 tetramers of lattice water, which further connect the zigzag chains through strong hydrogen bonds to form 2D supramolecular network. Compound 3 is a mononuclear complex in which H-bonding (H2O)8 water clusters further combine the complex through hydrogen bonds to form supramolecular framework. Thermal stabilities of 1 and 3 have also been investigated.