Tetravalent Silicon Connectors MenSi(p-C6H4CO2H)4-n (n = 0, 1, 2) for the Construction of Metal-Organic Frameworks

A series of silicon-centered connecting units, Me_nSi(p-C₆H₄CO₂H)_4n(n= 0, 1, 2), have been prepared and their coordination polymers with Zn(II) metal atoms studied. The tetra-acidL1(n= 0) acts as a tetrahedral node and reacts with Zn(II) centers to give1, a novel interpenetrating 3D network containing distorted tetrahedral bimetallic secondary building units (SBUs). The triacidL2(n= 1) acts as a trigonal pyramidal node and forms an intercalated 2D layered network,2, with Zn(II) ions, containing distorted octahedral tetranuclear SBUs. Last, the bent diacidL3(n= 2) reacts with Zn(II) centers to give3, a corrugated 2D layered structure containing 1D zinc hydroxo chains. Together these three new coordination polymers demonstrate the potential versatility of tetravalent silicon containing connecting ligands for metalorganic framework construction.