Dong Luo, Xiao-Ping Zhou,* and Dan Li*
Abstract: A series of Ni−imidazolate cubic cages, one-dimensional and two-dimensional coordination polymers based on the cubic cages, have beenprepared by solvothermal subcomponent self-assembly of 5-methyl-4-formylimidazole, m-xylylenediamine, and NiII salts with varied anions. These compoundshave been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractions, elemental analysis,IR spectra, and powder X-ray diffractions. The formation of an oligomerized coordination cage or an infinite coordination polymer depends on the anions chosen. An oligomerized 8-nuclear Ni−imidazolate cubic cage is formed when the anion Cl−, Br−, I−, SCN−, NO2−, orNO3− is utilized in the reactions, and atwo-dimensional coordination polymer based on the Ni−imidazolate cubiccage will be obtained when N3−, (CN)2N−, or (CN)3C− act as the anions.When only ClO4− or both ClO4− and [Ni(C4N2S2)2]2− (C4N2S2 = dimercaptomaleonitrile) as anions exist in the reactionmixture, a ladder-like one-dimensional coordination polymer based on the Ni−imidazolate cubic cage and formate is formedunpredictably.
