Chiral 1-D coordination polymer chains featuring 1,1′-binaphthyl

Four 1-D chain coordination polymers containing bent 1,1′-binaphthyl ligands were synthesised with Ni^II, Cu^II and Ag^I. The use of (R)-4,4′-(2,2′-diethoxy-[1,1′-binaphthalene]-6,6′)dipyridine as a ligand yielded isostructural 1-D looping chains with Ni^II and Cu^II, whereas the use of Ag^I yielded both linear and helical 1-D chains. Changing the dipyridyl coordination groups to dicarboxylates in (S)-6,6′-dicarboxyl-2,2′-diethoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene yielded a 1-D looping chain with a Cu^II paddlewheel motif. The Ag^I 1-D chain features two crystallographically distinct 1-D chain morphologies with a triple helix and linear strips. The packing arrangement of the 1-D chains differs because of the intermolecular interactions present, with the steric bulk of the ethoxy substituent on the 1,1′-binaphthyl enabling the formation of large void spaces.