Synthesis, structures, and luminescent properties of two cadmium polymers of 4-carboxyl phenoxyacetate and 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole

Two-dimensional complexes of [Cd(cpoa)(o-pbim)] n (1) and {[Cd3(cpoa)3(o-pbim)2] · 2H2O} n (2) (cpoa2− = 4-carboxyphenoxy acetate, o-pbim = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole) are synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that complex 1 contains a mono-nuclear unit, whereas complex 2 contains a trinuclear unit. The structural difference of 1 and 2 can be attributed to the various coordination modes of asymmetrically semi-flexible cpoa2− ligand. The luminescent properties of these two compounds are also investigated.