Novel 2D Porous Metal–Organic Frameworks: Synthesis, X-Ray Structure, Thermal, and Hirshfeld Surface Analyses

In the present study, we have developed a series of compounds [M(tcm)2(bix)4]n [where M = Co (1), Ni (2), and Cu (3)] using tricyanomethanide (tcm) and 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (bix) ligands. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, PXRD, FT-IR and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Single-crystal X-ray investigation of compounds 1, 2, and 3 shows the formation of the porous 2D structure. These 2D structures are further stacked to create a 3D network in the crystallographic space. All the compounds are thermally stable up to 300 °C, as revealed by the TGA. Hirshfeld surface analysis was carried out, and it reveals the existence of short intermolecular interactions between the layers.