The crystal structure, luminescence and nitrobenzene‐sensing properties of a two‐dimensional Mn II coordination polymer based on 2,6‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)pyridine

A two‐dimensional Mn II coordination polymer (CP), poly[bis[μ 2 ‐2,6‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)pyridine‐κ 2 N 3 : N 3′ ]bis(thiocyanato‐κ N )manganese] [Mn(NCS) 2 (C 11 H 9 N 5 ) 2 ] n , (I), has been obtained by the self‐assembly reaction of Mn(ClO 4 ) 2 ·6H 2 O, NH 4 SCN and bent 2,6‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)pyridine (2,6‐bip). CP (I) was characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal structure features a unique two‐dimensional (4,4) network with one‐dimensional channels. The luminescence and nitrobenzene‐sensing properties were explored in a DMF suspension, revealing that CP (I) shows a strong luminescence emission and is highly sensitive for nitrobenzene detection.