LAUSR

Abstract Coordination polymers and metallocycles formed by the reactions of CoX2 or HgX2, X = Cl−, Br− or I−, with the ditopic organic ligands (L) 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine, 3amp, or 4-(aminomethyl)pyridine, 4amp, are reported. The combination of L = 4amp with CoCl2, CoBr2 or HgI2 yielded one-dimensional coordination polymers of composition [M(L)(X)2]∞, in which the metal ion displays a tetrahedral geometry. Only the combination of L = 3amp with CoCl2 resulted in the formation of a one-dimensional coordination polymer, while the rest of the structures containing this organic ligand were comprised of metallocycles. The metallocyclic rings were found to have a composition [M2(L)2(X)4]n, with n = 1 for L = 3amp and HgBr2, and n = 2 for L = 3amp and CoBr2 or HgI2. Strong N H…X–M hydrogen bonding interactions are observed in both the coordination polymer and metallocycle structures. The solid-state fluorescence spectra of selected compounds are reported.