Synthesis, Structures, and Catalytic Properties of Two Zinc(II) Coordination Polymers Constructed from Polycarboxylate and Bis(Benzimidazole) Ligands

Two Zn(II) coordination polymers, formulated as {[Zn(L1)0.5(btc)0.5(H2O)]·H2O} n (1) and {[Zn(L2)(1,4-ndc)]·2H2O} n (2) [L1 = 1,4-bis(2-methylbenzimidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzene, L2 = 1,4-bis(2-methylbenzimidazole)butane, H4btc = butane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic acid, 1,4-H2ndc = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid] have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 features a 3D (3,4)-connected network with the topology of fsh-3,4-P21/c. Complex 2 is a 2D (4,4) grid with sql topology and further extends into a 3D supramolecular framework by π–π stacking interactions. In addition, the thermal stability, fluorescence, and catalytic properties of two complexes for degrading methyl orange dye in a Fenton-like process were investigated.