Helical and polymeric nanostructures assembled from benzene tri- and tetracarboxylic acids associated with terpyridine copper(ii) complexes

A ladder-like framework was derived from benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid with Cu(II) and terpyridine; whereas with benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, a helical structure was formed with two CO2- groups bridging opposing (terpyridine)Cu(II) units and the other CO2H connecting the helical cylinders via H-bonding.