Water driven formation of channels: unusual solid-state 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.