Isomerism in double-pillared-layer coordination polymers - structures and photoreactivity

The existence of isomerism in coordination polymeric structures offers opportunities to understand structure-function relationships. Herein the serendipitous isolation is reported of two isomeric double-pillared-layer coordination polymeric structures arising from two different types of carboxylate bonding of benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate ligands to zinc(II), which constitutes a new type of structural isomerism. The different bonding modes not only alter the shape and size of the pores, but also the nature of interpenetration and photoreactivity. Although two trans, cis, trans-bpeb ligands with conjugated olefin bonds are aligned in close proximity in both of the structures, one isomer undergoes a double [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction and the second isomer only offers an incomplete single cycloaddition product. This work demonstrates how small changes in the structural connectivity can have an impact on the overall structural, physical and chemical properties of such materials.