Mingjie Huang

Reliability of π–π stacking interactions in crystal engineering: synthesis and structure of a hemidirected lead complex

A new three-dimensional polymeric supramolecular PbII complex, {[Pb3(bpy)3(ip)3](H2O)}n, (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and ip = isophthalate), has been synthesised and characterised. Single-crystal analysis shows that {[Pb3(bpy)3(ip)3](H2O)}n contains a one-dimensional chain polymeric framework and all the Pb centres with a coordination number of six possess an electron lone pair. The coordination sphere is hemidirected which gives a highly distorted geometry. The arrangement of O- and N- atoms towards Pb atoms suggests a gap or hole in the coordination geometry around these atoms. Moreover, there are three types of π–π interactions between aromatic rings and the one-dimensional chains, which are connected by these interactions to form a three dimensional supramolecular network with the channels occupied by water molecules.