SELF-ASSEMBLY OF COPPER(I) COMPLEXES INTO 3-DIMENSIONAL COORDINATION POLYMERS WITH CHANNEL NETWORKS BY HYDROGEN-BONDING OR BY TRIDENTATE LIGANDS

Reaction of the appropriate copper(I) salt with 3-cyano-6-methylpyridi n-2(1H)-one (Hcmp) gave three polymeric co-ordination compounds, [Cu(c mp)(Hcmp)(3)]. C5H12 1, [Cu-2(Hcmp)(4)(Me(2)CO)(2)][BF4](2) 2 and [Cu- 5(cmp)(4)]ClO4 3, the structures of which have been determined by X-ra y crystallography. Complex 1 contains a three-dimensional supramolecul ar framework of tetrahedral CuN4 centres linked by intermolecular hydr ogen bonds through the pyridone N and O atoms. The open square microch annels created enclathrate n-pentane as the guest molecule. Complex 2 contains a dimeric unit weakly bound by the bridging acetone oxygen at oms. Each Hcmp moiety in the dimer is hydrogen-bonded pairwise to one adjacent Hcmp molecule belonging to the other dimer giving a one-dimen sional array of copper atoms. The unique structural feature of complex 3 is that it does not involve hydrogen bonding as in 1 or 2, instead each cmp monoanion employs all its three functional groups bridging th ree copper atoms forming a supramolecular channel architecture contain ing a Cu-4 cluster. The results are discussed in terms of designing ne w inorganic solids by the self-assembly of copper(I) complexes.