Framework variations in Mn(II)-organic coordination polymers: solvent templated formation and characterisation of 1D zigzag and straight chain network isomers

Hydrothermal reaction of manganese carbonate with 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (H(2)bda) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) affords coordination polymers, [Mn(bda)(phen)(H2O)]n center dot npy center dot nH(2)O (1 center dot npy center dot nH(2)O, 1a), [Mn(bda)(phen)(H2O)]n center dot 2npip (1 center dot 2npip, 1b) and [Mn(bda)(phen)](n) (2). The polymer 1 crystallizes into either 1D zigzag chain or straight chain structures depending on the crystallisation solvents used, and both of them stack into a 3D guest-filled porous framework via inter-chain interactions, whereas the polymer 2 organizes into a 3D ligand-filled porous coordination framework in the absence of suitable guests. The polymer 1 represents an unusual example of network isomers formed via the templating of structurally dissimilar but closely related organic guests.