Two three-dimensional frameworks composed of doubly interpenetrating networks of the same topology but different stereoisomeric structures have been constructed from self-assembly of the chiral building block, Δ-or Λ-[Nd(ntb)2]3, with different spacers bipy and bpen (ntb=tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, bipy=4,4 -bipyridyl, bpen=trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene). In the crystal structure of [Nd(ntb)2][ClO4]3 3bipy 2H2O the spacer bipy connects [Nd(ntb)2]3+ cations of the same handedness to generate a chiral network Δ3-Δ... (or Λ3-Λ...){[Nd(ntb)2]3+ 3bipy}∞, which is interpenetrated further by another identical network. The crystal structure of [Nd(ntb)2][ClO4]3+ 3bpen H2O shows a topologically similar but achiral framework in which each spacer bpen connects either cations of the same chirality or a pair of enantiomers, thus generating a three-dimensional racemate Δ2Λ-Λ... (or Λ2Δ-Δ...)- {[Nd(ntb)2]3+ 3bpen}∞. Aggregation of the molecular species is effected by N-H... N hydrogen bonds, and the observed enantioselective self-assembly can be rationalized by π...π interactions between aromatic rings.

The two flexible multidentate ligands 1,3-bis(8-thioquinolyl)propane (C3TQ) and 1,4-bis(8-thioquinolyl)butane (C4TQ) were reacted with AgX (X ) CF3SO3 - or ClO4 -) to give four new complexes: {[Ag(C3TQ)](ClO4)}n 1, {[Ag(C3TQ)]- (CF3SO3)}n 2, {[Ag2(C4TQ)(CF3SO3)(CH3CN)](CF3SO3)}n 3, and {[Ag(C4TQ)](ClO4)}n 4. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray analysis showed that chain structures form for all complexes in which the quinoline rings interact via various intra- (1) or intermolecular (2, 3, and 4)

An effective solvothermal procedure has been developed to synthesize the new three-dimensional metal-organic framework, [ZnF(AmTAZ)]

Three angular ditopic ligands (1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-4,6-dimethylbenzene L1, 1,3- bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene L2, and 1,4-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene L3) and one tripodal ligand 1,3,5-tris(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene L4 have been prepared. Reaction of these shape-specific designed ligands with different metal salts affords a series of discrete molecular architectures: [Ag2L1 2](BF4)2 1, [Ag2L2 2](CF3SO3)2 2, [CF3SO3- Ag2L3 2]-CF3SO3 3, [CF3SO3- Ag2L3 3]CF3SO3 4, [ClO4- Cu2L2 4](ClO4)3 5, [4H2O+ Ni2L24Cl4]