Three coordination polymers constructed from various polynuclear clusters spaced by 2,2′-azodibenzoic acid: syntheses and fluorescent properties

Solvothermal reactions of M(OAc)(2)center dot 2H(2)O (M = Zn, Cd, Pb) with 2,2'-azodibenzoic acid (H2L) in MeOH-H2O (MeOH = methanol) at 120 degrees C gave rise to three coordination polymers, [Zn-12(mu(4)-O)(3)L-9](n) (1), [CdL(H2O)](n) (2) and [Pb-3(mu(4)-O)L-2](n) (3). Compounds 1-3 are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, powder X-ray diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 has two similar tetranuclear [Zn-4(mu(4)-O)(mu(2)-CO2)(6)] units as nodes and displays an intriguing three-dimensional (3D) 6-connected network with a 4(12)6(3) topology. Compound 2 exhibits a 3D framework constructed by linking infinite helical Cd-carboxylate chains through L ligands. Compound 3 holds a 3D structure in which each hexanuclear [Pb-6(mu(4)-O)(2)(CO2)(4)] unit works as a six-connecting node to connect its equivalent ones via sharing L ligands. In addition, the fluorescent properties and thermal stabilities of 1-3 were also investigated.