Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of LaIII and CuII coordination polymers with 5-nitroisophthalic acid (H2Nip), [La2(μ-Nip)(μ-SO4)2(H2O)5] n and {[Cu3(μ-OH)2(μ-Nip)2(μ-H2O)2] · 2H2O} n

3D LaIII and 2D CuII coordination polymers with 5-nitroisophthalate anions, [La2(μ-Nip)(μ-SO4)2(H2O)5] n (1) and {[Cu3(μ-OH)2(μ-Nip)2(μ-H2O)2]  · 2H2O} n (2), have been synthesized, characterized and studied by X-ray crystallography. The La atoms have eight–coordinate geometries in distorted square antiprism environments and the Cu atoms have five- and six–coordinate geometries with distorted square pyramidal and octahedral environments. Self-assembly of these compounds in the solid state occurs through coordination and hydrogen bonding.