Novel one‐ and two‐dimensional Zn II coordination polymers based on a versatile 3,6‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenanthrene‐9,10‐dione ligand

Two new Zn II coordination polymers, namely, catena ‐poly[[dibromidozinc(II)]‐μ‐[3,6‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenanthrene‐9,10‐dione‐κ 2 N : N ′]], [ZnBr 2 (C 24 H 14 N 2 O 2 )] n , (1), and poly[[bromido[μ 3 ‐10‐hydroxy‐3,6‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenanthren‐9‐olato‐κ 3 N : N ′: O 9 ]zinc(II)] hemihydrate], {[ZnBr(C 24 H 15 N 2 O 2 )]·0.5H 2 O} n , (2), have been synthesized through hydrothermal reaction of ZnBr 2 and a 60° angular phenanthrenedione‐based linker, i.e. 3,6‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenanthrene‐9,10‐dione, in different solvent systems. Single‐crystal analysis reveals that polymer (1) features one‐dimensional zigzag chains connected by weak C—H...π and π–π interactions to form a two‐dimensional network. The two‐dimensional networks are further stacked in an ABAB fashion along the a axis through C—H...O hydrogen bonds. Layers A and B comprise left‐ and right‐handed helical chains, respectively. Coordination polymer (2) displays a wave‐like two‐dimensional layered structure with helical chains. In this compound, there are two opposite helical –Zn–H L – chains [H L is 10‐hydroxy‐3,6‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenanthren‐9‐olate] in adjacent layers. The layers are packed in an ABAB sequence and are further connected through O—H...Br and O—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions to form a three‐dimensional framework. In (1) and (2), the mutidentate L and H L ligands exhibits different coordination modes.