Guest-induced helical metallacyclic chains in a porous coordination solid constructed from a flexible ester-containing ligand

摘要

A porous metal-organic framework [Co(SCN)(2)(EDPC)(2)(H2O)(3)](n) (1; EDPC = 1,2-ethanediyl di-3-pyridinecarboxylate) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Immersing the crystals of 1 in THF solution led to the dynamic framework of 1 undergoing a crystal-to-crystal guest-exchange process to afford the helical metallacyclic polymer [Co(SCN)(2)(EDPC)(2)(THF)](n) [1 subset of THF]. The guest THF molecules were accommodated in the cavities of the metallacyclic chains and showed the handness of the helical chains by their oxygen atoms as probes.