Two new coordination polymers driven by polycarboxylate and N-donor spacers: Photocatalytic performance and theoretical analysis

Abstract

Two new coordination polymers (CPs) namely, [Cd2(btc)(bmi)2·4H2ODMF] (1) and [Zn2(L)(bmi)·5H2O] (2) have been synthesized utilizing mixed ligand strategy by reacting Cd(II) salt with benzene-tetracarboxylic acid (H4btc) and 1,5-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)pentane (bmi) and Zn(II) salt with 5-[bis(4-carboxybenzyl)-amino]isophthalic acid (H4L) and 1,5-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)pentane (bmi). The single crystal X-ray diffraction indicated that 1 has 2D network with (4,4) topology based on [Cd2(COO)4] secondary building units (SBUs), while 2 displays an undulating 2D (4, 4)-network by μ4-(L)4− ligands, which can be further interlinked into 3D supramolecular layer through hydrogen bonding interactions. Both of them have been tested as possible photocatalysts for the photodegradation of a model organic dye methyl violet (MV). The photocatalytic studies indicate that 1 and 2 show potential photocatalyts for degradation of MV. Furthermore, the possible photocatalytic mechanisms have been explained on the basis of density of states plots.