Topologically Unique 2D Heterometallic Cu^II/Mg Coordination Polymer: Synthesis, Structural Features, and Catalytic Use in Alkane Hydrocarboxylation

The new two-dimensional (2D) heterometallic CuII/Mg coordination polymer [Cu2Mg2(μ-Htea)2(μ6-pma)­(H2O)6]n·6nH2O (1) with an unprecedented [Cu2Mg­(μ-O)2(μ-COO)2]− core has been easily generated by aqueous medium self-assembly from copper­(II) nitrate, triethanolamine (H3tea), magnesium hydroxide, and pyromellitic acid (H4pma). The crystal structure of 1 is composed of infinite interdigitated 2D metal–organic layers that extend via H-bonds into an intricate 3D supramolecular framework. The topological analysis of 1 discloses a binodal 2,4-connected underlying 2D net with the unique topology described by the point symbol of (64·8·10)­(6), further simplification of which leads to an uninodal 4-connected net with the sql topology. Apart from representing a very rare example of the heterometallic Cu/Mg coordination network, compound 1 also acts as an efficient catalyst precursor for the mild single-pot hydrocarboxylation of linear and cyclic Cn (n = 5–9) alkanes into the corresponding Cn+1 carboxylic acids.