Reversible pressure-controlled depolymerization of a copper(II)-containing coordination polymer

A unique pressure-induced Cu-N bond breaking/bond forming reaction is reported. The variation of pressure on a single crystal of a one-dimensional copper(II)-containing coordination polymer (Cu2L2(1-methylpiperazine)2]n, where H2L is 1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione)), was monitored using single crystal X-ray diffraction with the aid of a diamond anvil
cell. At a very low elevated pressure (~0.05 GPa) a remarkable reversible phase change was observed. The phase change results in the depolymerization of the material through the cleavage and formation of axial Cu-N bonds as well as “ring flips” of individual axially coordinated 1-methylpiperazine ligands. Overall, the
pressure-induced phase change is associated with a surprising (and non-intuitive) shift in structure – from a 1-dimensional coordination polymer to a discrete dinuclear complex.