Synthesis, Structures, and Catalytic Properties of Two Silver(I) Coordination Polymers Constructed from 1,4-Bis(benzimidazolyl)butane

Using a hydrothermal synthesis method, two silver(I) complexes, [Ag(bbbm)(1,3-HBDC)]_n (1) and [Ag(bbbm)(1,2-HBDC)]_n (2) (bbbm = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole, 1,3-H₂BDC = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-H₂BDC = 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The silver centers display different environments with a distorted T-shaped geometry in 1, and a linear geometry in 2. Both chain structures of 1 and 2 are bridged by bbbm in a bis-monodentate coordination mode. 1 is further linked to generate a 3D supramolecular architecture via π-π stacking interactions and intermolecular O–H⋯O hydrogen bonding. In 2, the ribbon-like chains are additionally assembled by two π-π stacking modes to form a layer motif. The photoluminescence of 1 and 2 was investigated in the solid state. 1 and 2 possess a remarkable activity for degradation of methyl orange by persulfate in a Fenton-like process.