Oligomeric and polymeric organizations of potassium salts with compartmental Schiff-base complexes as ligands

The complexation of K(+) ions by mono-metallated bicompartmental Schiff-base complexes in double-decker-type arrangement was found to yield various supramolecular organizations as a function of the associated anions. A series of four [{LMK}(n){LM}](n+) aggregates with n 1, 2, 3, and infinity are reported (M = Ni(2+) or Cu(2+); L stands for the Schiff-base). Assembling KNCS with the metallo-ligand led to 1-D [L(3C)CuK(NCS)](n) whereas KOH yielded the simplest possible case, [(L(2C)Ni)(2)KOH]center dot H(2)O. Oligomeric organizations containing two or three alkali ions were achieved in the presence of the [Mo(NCS)(6)](3-) anion. Such stacks have not been found with Na(2+) due to a different local arrangement with the metallo-ligand. The crystal packing for [(L(2C)Ni)(2)KOH]center dot H(2)O yields an open-framework structure with a void volume of 20%.