Observance of a large conformational change associated with the rotation of the naphthyl groups during the photodimerization of criss-cross aligned C=C bonds within a 2D coordination polymer

Abstract

Five coordination polymers [Zn(oba)(4-spy)]2·(4-spy)0.25·(H2O) (1), [Zn2(oba)2(HT-ppcb)]2·(4-spy)0.25 (1a), [Zn(oba)(4-(2-npy))]2·(4-(2-npy))0.25·(H2O)1.25 (2), [Zn(oba)(4-npy)]2·(4-npy)0.25 (3) and [Zn2(oba)2(HT-pncb)]·(4-npy)0.25 (3a) (H2oba = 4,4′-oxydibenzoic acid; 4-spy = (E)-4-styrylpyridine; HT-ppcb = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,4-bis(phenyl)cyclobutane; 4-(2-npy) = (E)-4-(2-(naphthalen-2-yl)vinyl)pyridine; 4-npy = (E)-4-(2-(naphthalen-1-yl)vinyl)pyridine; HT-pncb = rctt-1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,4-bis(1-naphthyl)cyclobutane) were structurally determined. In each case, pairs of Zn(ii) centres are linked by oba2- anions to form a 2D network. Olefinic pyridyl ligands bound to Zn(ii) extend above an..