Using similar synthesis conditions and a flexible ligand, 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)ethane (L), we
isolated novel right-handed helical infinite chain [Zn(L)(Cl)2] (1), two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers
[M(L)2(H2O)2]·(NO3)2 [M = Zn (2), Cd (3)], and a one-dimensional (1D) double-bridged complex [Cd(L)2(H2O)2]·(ClO4)2(H2O)2 (4), where anions could tune the self-assemblies to form different supramolecular and coordination networks.
Compound 1 is the first infinite helix in triazole compounds, where the supramolecular helical chain and the
coordination chain form a unique double helical structure. Nitrate and perchlorate anions induced different
supramolecular structures, which lead to the first case of the self-assembled CdN4O2 polyhedra from 2D to 1D
coordination polymers for 3 and 4, respectively.