Assembly of ZnII and CdII coordination polymers with different dimensionalities based on the semi-flexible 3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid ligand

Two new coordination polymers, namely, poly[[μ3-3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)propionato]zinc(II)], [Zn(C10H8N2O2)]n, (1), and poly[bis­[μ2-3-(1H-benzimid­azol-2-yl)propionato]cadmium(II)], [Cd(C10H8N2O2)2]n, (2) have been synthesized from 3-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid ligands through a mixed-ligand synthetic strategy under a solvothermal environment, and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in the ortho­rhom­bic space group Pbca and features a two-dimensional structure formed by a binuclear Zn2O4 core. Complex 2, however, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c and forms a one-dimensional chain structure. The ZnII and CdII ions have different coordination numbers and the 3-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)propano­ate ligands display different coordination modes. The structures reported here show the importance of the selection of metal ions and suitable ligands.