Effect of Conformation and Combination of 1,3‐Bis(4‐pyridylthio)propan‐2‐one upon Coordination Architectures: Syntheses, Characterizations and Properties

Self‐assemblies of the conformationally labile ditopic ligand 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridylthio)propan‐2‐one (L) with square‐planer nodes Co II , Ni II and with linear nodes Ag I have afforded three new coordination polymers, {[Ni(L) 2 Cl 2 ]} ∞ ( 1 ), {[Co(L) 2 ‐(SCN) 2 ] · (DMF) 2 } ∞ ( 2 ) and {[AgL]NO 3 } ∞ ( 3 ), respectively. Structural analyses of these polymers and conformational analyses of L have revealed that metal‐assisted conformational selectivity and unique combinations of conformational isomers of L around the metal nodes probably play the key role in determining the structural topologies. In 1 , a C 2 symmetric array of two sorts of conformational isomers of L around Ni II centers results in a 3D interpenetrating framework, while in 2 a combination of two types of conformational isomers of L around the inversion center Co II provides a 3D interpenetrating architecture of CdSO 4 ‐like topology. In 3 , L presents only a typical conformation, with higher steric energy, that links linear nodes Ag I , leading to a 1D U‐like chain. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 , as well as the interesting fluorescent properties of 3 , have also been investigated. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)