Topologically Unique 2D Heterometallic CuII/Mg Coordination Polymer: Synthesis, Structural Features, and Catalytic Use in Alkane Hydrocarboxylation

The new two-dimensional (2D) heterometallic Cu-II/Mg coordination polymer [Cu2Mg2(mu-Htea)(2)(mu(6)-pma)(H2O)(6)](n)center dot 6nH(2)O (1) with an unprecedented [Cu2Mg(mu-O)(2)(mu-COO)(2)](-) core has been easily generated by aqueous medium self-assembly from copper(II) nitrate, triethanolamine (H(3)tea), magnesium hydroxide, and pyromellitic acid (H(4)pma). The crystal structure of 1 is composed of infinite interdigitated 2D metal-organic layers that extend via H-bonds into an intricate 3D supramolecular framework. The topological analysis of 1 discloses a binodal 2,4-connected underlying 2D net with the unique topology described by the point symbol of (6(4).8.10)(6), further simplification of which leads to an uninodal 4-connected net with the sql topology. Apart from representing a very rare example of the heterometallic Cu/Mg coordination network, compound 1 also acts as an efficient catalyst precursor for the mild single-pot hydrocarboxylation of linear and cyclic C-n (n = 5-9) alkanes into the corresponding Cn+1 carboxylic acids.