Supramolecular architectures from the self-assembly of trans-oxamidato-bridged dicopper(II) building blocks and phenyldicarboxylates

Compounds [Cu-2(trans-oxen)(tp)](n). -2nH(2)O (1 . 2nH(2)O), [{Cu-2(trans-o xpn)(H2O)(2)} {Cu-2(trans-oxpn)} (isophth)(2)](n). 7nH(2)O (2 . 7nH(2)O) an d [Cu-2(trans-oxen)(phth)](n). -2nH(2)O (3 . 2nH(2)O) [H(2)oxen = N,N'-bis( 2-aminoethyl)oxamide, H(2)oxpn = N,N'-bis(3-aminopropyl)oxamide, tp = terep hthalate, isophth = isophthalate and phth = phthalate] were obtained from t he self-organization of trans-oxamidato-bridged dicopper(II) building block s [Cu-2(trans-L)](2+) (L = oxen or oxpn) and phenyldicarboxylate spacers wi th differently oriented carboxyl groups and their crystal structures determ ined. All the compounds consist of solvated water molecules and 2-D polymer ic coordination networks containing rectangular. H-shaped mosaics and disto rted rectangular grids for 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In addition, variegat ed hydrogen bonds involving solvated water molecules link the 2-D nets into 3-D frameworks. New bridging modes were discovered for the three isomeric phenyldicarboxylates. Magnetic calculations on 2 . 7nH(2)O showed that the planar oxamidato bridge transmits antiferromagnetic interactions between th e Cu(II) ions.