Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of a Series of Chiral Coordination Polymers Based on (R)‑4-(4-(1-Carboxyethoxy)phenoxy)-3-chlorobenzoic Acid

Three isomorphic chiral coordination polymers, namely, [M­(cpca)·(H₂O)]₂­·H₂O (M = Zn (1), Cd (2), and Co (3)), based on a new homochiral dicarboxylic acid ligand, have been synthesized under hydro­(solvo)­thermal conditions and characterized by single X-ray diffractions, elemental analyses, infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffractions, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The three compounds featured two-dimensional layer structures with one-dimensional pseudo-nanotubes connected together by weak intermolecular interactions, exhibiting a new topological structure with a point symbol of (4³·6²·8). The influence of ionic radii in tuning the pore size of the coordination polymers is discussed. Furthermore, second harmonic generation (SHG) activity, luminescence and sensing, and asymmetric catalytic properties of all these three chiral coordination polymers have also been studied. All the three complexes show different SHG activities. The luminescence of the complexes could be quenched by nitrobenzaldehyde, which may be used for molecular sensing and recognizing. The three complexes also demonstrate asymmetric catalysis activities toward Henry reactions of nitroaldehyde.