Novel viologen derivative based uranyl coordination polymers featuring photochromic behaviors

A series of novel uranyl coordination polymers have been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions. Both complexes 1 and 2 process two ipbp^- ligands (H₂ipbpCl=1-(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-4,4^'-bipyridinium chloride), one uranyl cation, and two coordination water molecules, which can further extend to 2D networks through hydrogen bonding. In complex 1, two sets of equivalent nets are entangled together, resulting in a 2D + 2D → 3D polycatenated framework. In complex 2, the neighbouring equivalent nets interpenetrate each other, forming a twofold interpenetrated network. Complexes 3 and 4 are isomers, and both of them are constructed from (UO₂)₂(OH)₂ dinuclear units, which are connected with four ipbp^- ligands. The 3D structures of complexes 3 and 4 are similar along the b axis. Similar to other viologen-based coordination polymers, complexes 3 and 4 exhibit photochromic and thermochromic properties, which are rarely observed in actinide coordination polymers. Unlike the monotonous coordination mode in complexes 1-4, the ipbp^- ligands feature a μ₃-bridge through two kinds of coordination modes in complex 5. Notably, complex 5 presents a unique example in which terminal pyridine nitrogen atom is involved in the coordination. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)