Uranyl Ion Complexes with Long-Chain Aliphatic α,ω-Dicarboxylates and 3d-Block Metal Counterions

Twelve new complexes were obtained from reaction of uranyl ions with the aliphatic dicarboxylic acids HOOC–(CH2)n−2–COOH (H2Cn; n = 7–10 and 12) under solvo-hydrothermal conditions, in the presence of 3d-block metal ions (Mn2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). In contrast to previously reported triple-stranded helicates obtained with C92– and C122–, all these complexes crystallize as polymeric one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) species. [Fe­(bipy)3]­[(UO2)2(C7)3]·3H2O (1), [Cu­(phen)2]2­[(UO2)3(C7)4(H2O)2]·2H2O (2), and [Cu­(bipy)2]2[(UO2)2(C9)3] (6), in which the 3d cation was reduced in situ, are 1D ladderlike polymers displaying tetra- or hexanuclear rings, of sufficient width to encompass two counterions in 2 and 6. The three complexes [Co­(phen)3]­[(UO2)3­(C8)3(O)]·H2O (3), [Ni­(phen)3]­[(UO2)3­(C8)3(O)]·H2O (4) and [Co­(phen)3]­[(UO2)3­(C9)3(O)]·H2O (5) contain bis­(μ3-oxo)-bridged tetranuclear secondary building units, and they crystallize as deeply furrowed 2D assemblies. Depending on the nature of the counterion, C102– gives [Ni­(bipy)3]­[(UO2)2­(C10)3]·2H2O (7), a 2D network displaying elongated decanuclear rings containing the counterions, or [Mn­(phen)3]­[(UO2)2(C10)3]·6H2O (8), [Co­(phen)3]­[(UO2)2(C10)3]·7H2O (9), and [Ni­(phen)3]­[(UO2)2(C10)3]·7H2O (10), which consist of 2D assemblies with honeycomb topology; the hexanuclear rings in 8–10 are chairlike and occupied by one counterion and two uranyl groups from neighboring layers. Two complexes of the ligand with the longest chain, C122–, are reported. [UO2(C12)­(bipy)] (11) is a neutral 1D species in which bipy chelates the uranyl ion and plays an important role in the packing through π-stacking interactions. Two polymeric units, 1D and 2D, coexist in the complex [Ni­(bipy)3]­[(UO2)2­(C12)3]­[UO2(C12)­(H2O)2]·H2O (12); the 2D network has the honeycomb topology, but the hexanuclear rings are markedly convoluted, with local features akin to those in helicates, and the counterions are embedded in intralayer cavities. Emission spectra measured in the solid state show in most cases various degrees of quenching, with intense and well-resolved uranyl emission being observed only for complexes 2 and 11.