Inspired by the catalytic potential
of lanthanide coordination
polymers of 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzenetetracarboxylic acid
(H4abtc), two new isostructural [Ln2
III(Habtc)2(DMSO)4]·DMSO·H2O (LnIII = SmIII (I), EuIII = (II), DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide) were synthesized
and characterized. Their single-crystal structures were elucidated
and described. Structural transformations of II in the
solid state prompted by ligand substitution and thermal treatment
were studied, from which genuine reversible transformation of II to [EuIII(Habtc)(H2O)4]·3H2O (II′) and [EuIII(Habtc)(H2O)2]·2H2O (II″) was revealed. This illustrates the rare case of
reversible transformation in lanthanide coordination polymers. The
transformation between II′ and II″ was also investigated. Structural transformations among these frameworks
are discussed with regard to the coordination environment of EuIII, coordination modes of Habtc3–, and similarities
and disparities in framework architecture and registration. In addition,
the catalytic performance of II with and without the
prior activation in CO2 cycloaddition reaction with epichlorohydrin
was studied in comparison with II′ and II″. The excellent performance of II disregarding the activation
process has been demonstrated with the maximum turnover number and
turnover frequency of 7682 and 1921 h–1, respectively,
for the activated II and 7142 and 1786 h–1, respectively, for the nonactivated II. The maintenance
of the catalytic efficiency over 10 cycles of the catalysis and the
regeneration process is illustrated and discussed with respect to
structural transformation.