Physical stability vs. chemical lability in microporous metal coordination polymers: a comparison of [Cu(OH)(INA)]n and [Cu(INA)2]n: INA = 1,4-(NC5H4CO2)

Two microporous copper isonicotinate polymers [Cu(OH)(INA)] and [Cu(INA)2] have been formed hydrothermally in good yield and purity; each have 1D channels of ca. 4 × 6 A dimension, but with quite different hydrophilicities; both frameworks retain structural integrity to above 200 °C, however whilst [Cu(OH)(INA)] is also chemically stable, [Cu(INA)2] is highly labile and readily transforms to the molecular complex [Cu(INA)2(H2O)4] in water at room temperature.