Exploring the reactivity of α-Acetamidocinnamic acid and 4-Phenylpyridine with Zn(II) and Cd(II)

The synthesis and characterization of four new coordination complexes is presented. Two of them have been obtained by reaction between M(OAc)(2)center dot 2H(2)O (M = Zn(II), Cd(II)) and alpha-acetamidocinnamic acid (HACA) yielding two isostructural monomeric compounds with general formula [M(ACA)(2)(H2O)(2)] (M = Zn(II) (1), Cd (II) (2)). In opposite, the reactivity of 1 and 2 with 4-phenylpyridine (4-Phpy) leads to a monomeric [Zn(4-Phpy)(2)(ACA)(2)(H2O)(2)]center dot 3H(2)O (3) or a dimeric compound [Cd(4-Phpy)(2)(mu-ACA)(ACA)](2)center dot 2EtOH (4). All of them have been characterised by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. In addition, single crystals of 1-4 for X-ray diffraction analysis have been obtained and their infra- and intermolecular interactions have been discussed and studied by Hirshfeld surface analysis, showing 3D supramolecular networks for all the compounds. In addition, the thermal stability of 3 and 4 has been studied. Finally, the photoluminescence properties of 1-4 have been examined, and their quantum yields calculated.