Synthesis of a Heterometallic [Zn2Ca] Pinwheel Array Stabilized by Amide-Amide Synthons

Abstract

The rational design of heterometallic compounds bearing s-block metal ions have been a difficult task for chemists owing to their lack of preferential geometries. However, some strategies, such as the design of coordinating pockets with different sizes and/or donor atoms, have offered great results. In this work, this strategy has been tested using Ca(II) as an s-block metal ion and a compound previously obtained by our group with the formula [Zn3(μ-ACA)6(4-phpy)2], which contains tetrahedral N,O- and octahedral O-coordinating pockets as a model structure. From this work, the corresponding heterometallic compound with the formula [Zn2Ca(μ-ACA)6(4-phpy)2]·EtOH (1) has been successfully synthesized, and fully characterized, and its crystal structure has been elucidated. Furthermore, we have compiled all the crystal structures containing [Zn2M] pinwheel secondary building units (SBUs), where M stands for an s-block metal ion, and the observed tendencies, as well as the promising applications as template SBUs for the preparation of 1D–3D coordination polymers, have been discussed. Finally, solid-state UV-Vis and photoluminescence have been recorded and compared with the homometallic [Zn3(μ-ACA)6(4-phpy)2] compound.