Co-ordination polymers containing square grids of dimension 15 × 15 Å †

Open and interpenetrated two-dimensional networks containing square grids of dimension ca. 15 × 15 Å and two one-dimensional networks, linear and zigzag, were synthesized using Ni(NO3)2/Cu(NO3)2 and two linear bifunctional ligands of length 11.4 Å. The formation of these materials was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Interestingly, some of these structures were found to form continuous channels across the packing of grids. The channels formed were occupied by 1-D columns of guest molecules. The electron rich ligand containing an anthracene moiety was found to form open square grid networks only in the presence of electron deficient guest molecules such as nitrobenzene and cyanobenzene, whereas in the presence of benzene it formed inclined interpenetrated grids with Ni(NO3)2 and two types of 1-D complexes with Cu(NO3)2.