Water driven formation of channels: unusual solidstate structural transformation of a heterometallic polymer.

Abstract

The backbone hetero-organometallic polymer trans-{[RuCp(PTA)2-μ-CN-RuCp(PTA)2-μ-CoCl3]}n·(DMSO)n (1·DMSO) has been synthesized and transformed into cis-{[{RuCp(PTA)2-μ-CN-1κC:2κ2N-RuCp(PTA)2}- μ-CoCl3]}n·{[RuCp(PTA)2-μ-CN-1κC:2κ2N-RuCp(PTA)2]Cl}0.5n·(15H2O)n (2·15H2O) by addition of water to crystallization media (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane). The new polymer 2·15H2O presents a nano-channeled molecular packing with pores filled by water molecules. The crystal structures of 1·DMSO and 2·15H2O and the transformation process are herein presented and discussed.