Uranyl–Pyromellitate Coordination Polymers: Toward Three-Dimensional Open Frameworks with Large Channel Systems

Abstract

Five coordination polymers based on uranyl–pyromellitates have been hydrothermally synthesized, and their single-crystal XRD structures have been analyzed. These different compounds, obtained with different ammonia concentrations, exhibit either three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional (2D) networks. Complex 1, (UO2)2(H2O)2(btec)·H2O, is a quite compact 3D structure containing isolated 7-fold coordinated uranyl cations linked through the pyromellitate (noted btec) and encapsulating free water species. Phase (NH4)[(UO2)2(OH)(H2O)(btec)]·1.75H2O (2) offers a second 3D architecture built up from dinuclear 7-fold coordinated uranyl units and mononuclear 8-fold coordinated uranyl units linked through the organic ligands. This framework is slightly more open because narrow one-dimensional (1D) channels trapping water species are visible. Phase 3, (NH4)2[(UO2)6O2(OH)4(btec)1.5]·11H2O, consists of large 1D lozenge-shaped channels (8.2 Å × 8.6 Å) delimited by infinite ribbons (composed of 7-fold coordinated uranyl polyhedra sharing edges) and pyromellitate ligands. Ammonium cations as well as water molecules are trapped within the channels. The fourth compound, (NH4)6[(UO2)3(btec)3]·12H2O (4), is lamellar with sheets containing 8-fold coordinated uranyl centers linked through the btec molecules, which have two nonbonded carboxylate functions interacting with the intercalated ammonium cations. Compound 5 also consists of a layered structure, (UO2)3(OH)2(H2O)2(btec), with uncommon trinuclear building blocks containing 7-fold (×2) and 8-fold (×1) coordinated uranyl centers, linked through the btec molecules. Fluorescence spectra of compounds 1, 3, and 4 are also measured.