3D Coordination Polymer of Cd(II) with an Imidazolium-Based Linker Showing Parallel Polycatenation Forming Channels with Aligned Imidazolium Groups

A novel entangled architecture formed on solvothermal reaction of a imidazolium based bent ligand with Cd(NO3)(2) showing 1D channels decorated with imidazolium groups, is reported. The polymer, {[Cd-2(L)(3)(DMF)(NO3)]-(DMF)(3)(H2O)(8)}(n) (1) (where H2L 1,3-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)imidazolium, DMF = dimethylformamide), shows an interesting 6,3-connected polycatenated structure with channels along the crystallographic b-axis occupied with large number of DMF and water molecules. On removal of these solvent molecules the compound maintains its overall structure. Proton conductivity investigation affords a proton conductivity of 1.3 x 10(-5) Scm(-1) at 25 degrees C and 98% RH when water molecules are introduced into the empty channels.