Reactions of N,N'-bis(3-methylpyridyl)oxalamide (L1), N,N'-bis(3-methylpyridyl)adipoamide (L2) and N,N'-bis(3-methylpyridyl)sebacoamide (L3) with tricarboxylic acids and Cu(II) salts afforded {[Cu(L1)(1,3,5-HBTC)]·H2O}n (1,3,5-H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid), 1, {[Cu1.5(L2)1.5(1,3,5-BTC)(H2O)2]·6.5H2O}n, 2, [Cu(L2)0.5(1,3,5-HBTB)]n (1,3,5-H3BTB = 1,3,5-tri(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene), 3, [Cu4(L3)(OH)2(1,3,5-BTC)2]n, 4, {[Cu3(L3)2(1,3,5-BTB)2]·2.5MeOH·2H2O}n, 5, and {[Cu3(L3)2(1,3,5-BTB)2 ]·DMF·2H2O}n, 6, which have been structurally characterized by using single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1-4 form a 2D layer with the {44.62}-sql topology, a 2D layer with the (4.62)2(42.62.82)-bex topology, a three-fold interpenetrated 3D net with the (412·63)-pcu topology and a 3D framework with the (410·632·83)(42·6)2(43·63) topology, respectively, whereas 5 and 6 are 3D frameworks with the (63)2(64·82)(68·85·102) topology. Complex 5 shows a better iodine adsorption factor of 290.0 mg g-1 at 60 °C for 360 min than the other ones, revealing that the flexibility of the spacer ligand governs the structural diversity and the adsorption capacity.
Keywords: coordination mode; coordination polymer; crystal structure analysis; tricarboxylate.