Synthesis, crystal structure and third-order non-linear optical properties of a two-dimensional coordination network [Cd(AcO)2(L)2(H2O)]

A novel two-dimensional (2-D) Cd(II) coordination network [Cd(AcO)2(L)2(H2O)] 1 (AcO = acetate, L = 4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) benzoic acid ethyl ester) has been synthesized by low-temperature solid-state reaction and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectra and UV–visible spectra. The molecules of the complex are interconnected into layers by O–H⋯O and C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds in which participate AcO−, L and H2O ligands. The intermolecular hydrogen-bonds interactions are the most significant factors controlling the novel supramolecular sheet fashion packing of the title compound in the crystal state. The third-order non-linear optical (NLO) properties of the title compound 1 were also investigated and they exhibit the reverse saturable absorption and self-defocusing performance with modulus of the hyperpolarizability (γ) 2.30 × 10−30 esu for 1 in a 2.15 × 10−4 mol dm−3 DMF solution.