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This paper reports the syntheses, characterization, and structures of two new two-dimensional cadmium-thiocyanate coordination solids [(12C4)(2)Cd][Cd(2)(SCN)(6)] (1) and [(12C4)(2)Cd][Cd(3)(SCN)(8)] (2), where 12C4 denotes 12-crown-4, C(8)H(16)O(4). 1 crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell, space group C2/c with lattice parameters a = 16.297(3) Å, b = 26.267(3) Å, c = 16.296(2) Å, beta = 90.20(1) degrees, and Z = 8. 2 crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell, space group P2(1)/n with lattice parameters a = 11.604(7) Å, b = 11.366(7) Å, c = 15.736(4) Å, beta = 92.84(3) degrees, and Z = 2. The structure of 1 exhibits a two-dimensional tetragonal motif consisting of Cd(2) units arranged in a checkerboard pattern with the dimeric [Cd(2)(SCN)(6)](2)(-) complex as the building block. The crystal structure of 2 can be described as a two-dimensional hexagonal array of linear trimeric Cd(3) units arranged in a herringbone pattern with the [Cd(3)(SCN)(8)](2)(-) complex as the building block. In both 1 and 2, the [(12C4)(2)Cd](2+) dications are housed in cavities within and between the anionic cadmium-thiocyanate layers but with different orientations ("upright" in 1 and "sideways" in 2) with respect to the cadmium-thiocyanate layers, giving rise to an anisotropic templating effect.

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This paper reports the synthesis, characterization, and structure of [(12C4)(2)Na][Cd(SCN)(3)] (3). The title compound 3 represents the first example of an anionic cadmium thiocyanate coordination solid in which a sandwich [(12C4)(2)Na](+) monocation serves as the spacer/controller, giving rise to a hexagonal array of antiparallel infinite zigzag [Cd(SCN)(3)(-)](infinity) chains with the cations occupying the triangular channels. The title compound 3 crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell of P2(1)/n space group symmetry with lattice parameters of 13.204(2) Å, 10.692(2) Å, 21.036(1) Å, 95.520(8) degrees, and Z = 4. A detailed comparison of the title structure (3) with that of [(18C6)(2)Na(2)(H(2)O)(2)](1/2)[Cd(SCN)(3)] (1) and [(18C6)K][Cd(SCN)(3)] (2) revealed that the arrangement and the alignment of the infinite anionic [Cd(SCN)(3)(-)](infinity) zigzag chains are dictated by the dimensions and symmetry, respectively, of the cations. The infinite anionic [Cd(SCN)(3)(-)](infinity) chains in 1 and 2 form an approximate tetragonal array, creating square channels which are filled with the dimeric [(18C6)(2)Na(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) (in 1) or with two monomeric [(18C6)K](+) (in 2) cations while the infinite anionic [Cd(SCN)(3)(-)](infinity) chains in 3 adopt an approximate hexagonal arrangement with the triangular channels filled by the smaller [(12C4)(2)Na](+) cations (the dimension effect). The relative alignment (either parallel or antiparallel) of the anionic chains is dictated by the symmetry or approximate symmetry of the cations. Thus, both the dimeric cation in 1 and the sandwich cation in 3 give rise to antiparallel alignment of the anionic [Cd(SCN)(3)(-)](infinity) chains with the centrosymmetric space group P2(1)/n whereas the disklike cation in 2 gives rise to parallel alignment of [Cd(SCN)(3)(-)](infinity) chains with noncentrosymmetric space group Cmc2(1) (the symmetry effect).