Thiophene 2,5-dicarboxylic acid (TDC) was reacted with uranyl acetate dihydrate and one (or none) of six N-donor chelating ligands (2,2′-bipyridine (BPY), 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4-MeBPY), 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (5-MeBPY), 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (6-MeBPY), 4,4′,6,6′-tetramethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (4,6-MeBPY), and tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (TPPZ) to result in the crystallization of seven uranyl coordination polymers, which were characterized by their crystal structures and luminescence properties. The seven coordination polymers, Na 2 [(UO 2 ) 2 (C 6 H 2 O 4 S) 3 ]· (7), consist of either uranyl hexagonal bipyramidal or pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometries. In all structures, structural variations in the local and global structures of 1−7 are influenced by the positions (or number) of methyl groups or pyridyl rings on the N-donor species, thus resulting in a wide diversity of structures ranging from single chains, double chains, or 2-D sheets. Direct coordination of N-donor ligands to uranyl centers is observed in the chain structures of 2−4 using BPY, 4-MeBPY, and 5-MeBPY, whereas the N-donor species participate as guests (as either neutral or charge balancing species) in the chain and sheet structures of 5−7 using 6-MeBPY, 4,6-MeBPY, and TPPZ, respectively. Compound 1 is the only structure that does not contain any N-donor ligands and thus crystallizes as a 2-D interpenetrating sheet. The luminescent properties of 1−7 are influenced by the direct coordination or noncoordination of N-donor species to uranyl centers. Compounds 2−4 exhibit typical UO 2 2+ emission upon direct coordination of N-donors, but its absence is observed in 1, 5, 6, and 7, when N-donor species participate as guest molecules. These results suggest that direct coordination of N-donor ligands participate as chromophores, thus resulting in possible UO 2 2+ sensitization. The lack of emission in 1, 5, 6, and 7 may be explained by the extended conjugation of the TDC ligands within their structures.
■ INTRODUCTIONCoordination polymers (CPs) constructed from the uranyl cation (UO 2 2+ ) continue to remain attractive in the field of hybrid materials owing to their unique structural and luminescent properties. 1 The UO 2 2+ cation is a linear triatomic species that contains two axial oxygen atoms about the central uranium atom, the terminal nature of which promotes additional ligand coordination about the equatorial plane. 2 This results in three types of UO 2 2+ primary building units (PBUs) found as square, pentagonal, or hexagonal bipyramidal geometries. The uranyl cation may also undergo hydrolysis and subsequent condensation to form secondary building units (SBUs) in the form of dimers, trimers, or tetramers, etc. 3,4 UO 2 2+ hydrolysis under hydrothermal conditions is a dynamic process wherein multiple speciation products are present in a wide range of pH and concentration. 5−7 This, in turn, makes it challenging to predict or control the type of uranyl building unit that will ultimately be observed in the solid st...