New 3D coordination polymers constructed from pillared metal-formate Kagomé layers exhibiting spin canting only in the nickel(II) complex.

Sparked by the strategy of pillared-layer MOFs, three formate coordination polymers, {Ni(2)(HCO(2))(3)(L)(2).2H(2)O}(infinity) (1), {Co(2)(HCO(2))(3)(L)(2).2H(2)O}(infinity) (2), and {Cu(2)(HCO(2))(3)(L)(2).2H(2)O}(infinity) (3), have been synthesized by employing the rodlike ligand 4,4'-bis(imidazol-1-yl)biphenyl (L) as the pillar. Structural analysis indicates that the title complexes 1-3 are isostructural compounds, which possess metal-formate 2D layers perpendicularly pillared by the ligand L to afford a 3D open framework. This is an interesting example of a Kagome lattice based on the formate mediator. Moreover, the formate anion of this 2D Kagome layer exhibits various bridging modes: anti-anti, syn-anti, and 3.21 modes. Their magnetic measurements reveals that only complex 1 presents the spin canting phenomenon, while its isostructural Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes are simply paramagnets with antiferromagnetic coupling.