A novel 1D neutral coordination polymer, {[Cu(dtmp)(dmf)Cl2]dmf}n (1) (dtmp=1,6-di(triazole-1-yl-methyl)-4-methylphenol, dmf=dimethyl formamide) was synthesized by reacting CuCl2 Æ 2H2O with the dtmp ligand. The crystal and molecular structure of the complex was determined by X-ray diffraction, in which the coordination geometry around the copper center is slightly distorted trigonal bypyramidal. One-dimensional chains have been formed through the metal and the ligand via oordination bonds, which are assembled further into a two-dimensional network by inter-chain synergic π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding.

The combination of a macrocyclic precursor and a sodium ion, sodium 2,6-diformyl-4-substitutedphenolate, offers an effective template to carry out Schiff base cyclocondensation with a quite number of polyamines. Followed by transmetallation with heavy metals has resulted in the production of several classes of macrocyclic complexes which have been structurally characterized. The ligands are involved with [2+2], [2+3], [3+3] and [4+4] condensation modes of macrocyclic precursors with multi-amines. It has been found so far that the sodium template presents several unique features such as a 'versatile' template regardless of ring sizes, easy replacement by transition metals and induced certain group elimination during the reaction.

Two macrocyclic dinuclear zinc(II) complexes (1a and 1b) have been self-assembled in the presence of pyridine and 2,2 -bipyridine, respectively, to form μ2-OH-bridged bimacrocycles with a Zn4O4 cavity through coordination bonding. The X-ray structural analysis reveals that both compounds {2a: [Zn4La 2(OH)2]2(ClO4)2; 2b: [Zn4Lb 2(OH)2]2(ClO4)2} have an open-mouthed sandwich-like structure with π−π interactions between parts of two phenyl rings to strengthen two hydroxyl groups connecting the metal atoms in the same direction of the macrocycle. Furthermore, nonclassical C−H•••Cl intermolecular interactions have been observed in the crystal of 2b. In addition, the reaction of 1a with quinoline derivatives has yielded novel hydrogen-bond-supported donor-acceptor complexes {3a: [Zn2 La(H2O)2(C10H9N)2](ClO4)2}. The crystallographic study of the complex containing 2-methylquinoline indicates that two 2-methylquinoline molecules are linked to two coordinating water molecules above and below the macrocyclic framework through O−H•••N hydrogen bonds. The 2-methylquinoline plane interacts in a face-to-face fashion with the phenyl ring of adjacent macrocyclic frameworks, forming an ordered arrangement where one macrocycle and two 2-methylquinolines are arrayed alternately with almost the same separation. The interplanar distance mentioned before is ca. 3.6Å.

A chiral heptanuclear nickel(II) complex [NiII(NiII 2L)3(μ3-OH)2]·3H2O [H4L=(2R,3R)-1,4-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneamino)-2,3-butanediol], containing two μ3-OH bridges, has been prepared and structurally characterized; its thermal and magnetic properties were investigated.

A dinuclear manganese macrocyclic complex with functional pendant arms, [Mn2(II)HL2](ClO4), has been prepared by the cyclocondensation of sodium 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenolate with N,N-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)amine and subsequent transmetallation of Mn(II)(ClO4)2. In the molecular structure of the complex, each pendant arm is bound to an adjacent manganese atom and both arms lie on the same side of the resulting tetra-imine macrocycle. Each manganese(II) ion is in a distorted octahedral configuration. The variable-temperature magnetism and the cyclic voltammogram of the complex have also been investigated. In the catalytic study, this compound exhibits a high activity for catalyzing disproportionation of H2O2 to O2.