Exploring the Reactivity of α-Acetamidocinnamic Acid and 4-Phenylpyridine with Zn(II) and Cd(II)

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of four new coordination complexes is presented. Two of them have been obtained by reaction between M(OAc)2·2H2O (M= Zn(II), Cd(II)) and α-acetamidocinnamic acid (HACA) yielding two isostructural monomeric compounds with general formula [M(ACA)2(H2O)2] (M=Zn(II) (1), Cd(II) (2)). In opposite, the reactivity of 1 and 2 with 4-phenylpyridine (4-Phpy) leads to a monomeric [Zn(4-Phpy)2(ACA)2(H2O)2]·3H2O (3) or a dimeric compound [Cd(4-Phpy)2(µ-ACA)(ACA)]2·2EtOH (4). All of them have been characterised by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. In addition, single crystals of 1-4 for X-ray diffraction analysis have been obtained and their intra- and intermolecular interactions have been discussed and studied by Hirshfeld surface analysis, showing 3D supramolecular networks for all the compounds. In addition, the thermal stability of 3 and 4 has been studied. Finally, the photoluminescence properties of 1-4 have been examined, and their quantum yields calculated.