4,4′-(Pyridine-3,5-diyl)dibenzoic acid (H2pdba)
was explored as an adaptable linker for assembling a diversity of
new manganese(II), cobalt(II/III), nickel(II), and copper(II) coordination
polymers (CPs): [Mn(μ4-pdba)(H2O)]
n
(1), {[M(μ3-pdba)(phen)]·2H2O}
n
(M
= Co (2), Ni (3)), {[Cu2(μ3-pdba)2(bipy)]·2H2O}
n
(4), {[Co(μ3-pdba)(bipy)]·2H2O}
n
(5), [Co2(μ3-pdba)(μ-Hbiim)2(Hbiim)]
n
(6), and [M(μ4-pdba)(py)]
n
(M = Co (7),
Ni (8)). The CPs were hydrothermally synthesized using
metal(II) chloride precursors, H2pdba, and different coligands
functioning as crystallization mediators (phen: 1,10-phenanthroline;
bipy: 2,2′-bipyridine, H2biim: 2,2′-biimidazole;
py: pyridine). Structural networks of 1–8 range from two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic layers
(1–3, 5–8) to three-dimensional (3D) metal–organic framework
(MOF) (4) and disclose several types of topologies: sql (in 1), hcb (in 2, 3, 5), tfk (in 4), 3,5L66 (in 6), and SP 2-periodic net (6,3)Ia (in 7, 8). Apart from the characterization by standard
methods, catalytic potential of the obtained CPs was also screened
in the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with propanedinitrile
to give 2-benzylidenemalononitrile (model reaction). Several reaction
parameters were optimized, and the substrate scope was explored, revealing
the best catalytic performance for a 3D MOF 4. This catalyst
is recyclable and can lead to substituted dinitrile products in up
to 99% product yields. The present study widens the use of H2pdba as a still poorly studied linker toward designing novel functional
coordination polymers.