LAUSR

Abstract Two new Zn(II) coordination polymers (CPs) with [Zn(L)(2,2′-bipy)] (1) and [Zn(L)(bbi)0.5] (2) (H2L = 3,3′-(1,2-phenylenebis(methyleneoxy)) dibenzoic acid, bbi = 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole), 2,2,’-bipy = 2,2,’-bipyridine), have been solvothermally prepared. They exhibited 2D layer and 1D helical networks through the connectivity of Zn atoms and phenolic-oxygen containing branches of the flexible linkages. The N-donor ligand play a distinct effect in the formation of these mortifies. Both of them showed efficient photocatalytic performances to degrade methyl violet (MV) under UV irradiation. The percentage degradation of MV are 64.55% in presence of CP 1 while it is 78.54% with 2 as photocatalyst after 100 min of UV irradiation. The final degradation products were detected using LC–MS and the possible disassemble pathways for the degradation of dyes were discussed. The plausible photocatalytic mechanism through which both CPs displayed photocatalysis of MV have been explained using theoretical calculations.