A new polycatenated 3D array of interlaced 2D brickwall layers and ID molecular ladders in [Mn-2(bix)(3)(NO3)(4)]center dot 2CHCl(3) [bix=1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene] that undergoes supramolecular isomerization upon guest removal

The reactions of Mn(II) nitrate with the flexible ligand 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (bix) (reagent ratios 1:2-1:3) yield novel interesting coordination networks including, besides the ladder-like species [Mn(bix)(1.5)(NO3)(2)] and the 2-fold interpenetrated three-dimensional (3D) cds network [Mn(bix)(2)(NO3)(2)], the exceptional [Mn-2(bix)(3)(NO3)(4)]center dot 2CHCl(3), which is comprised of two different supramolecular isomers, namely, brickwall layers and one-dimensional (ID) molecular ladders, polycatenated to give a 3D (2D + 1D) architecture.