Structural characterization of a new samarium-sodium heterometallic coordination polymer

Lanthanide-containing materials are of interest in the field of crystal engineering because of their unique properties and distinct structure types. In this context, a new samarium-sodium heterometallic coordination polymer, poly[ tetrakis(mu(2)- 2-formyl- 6-methoxyphenolato) samarium(III)sodium(I)], {[SmNa(C8H7O3)(4)]center dot solvent}(n) (Sm-1), was synthesized and crystallized via slow evaporation from a mixture of ethanol and acetonitrile. The compound features alternating Sm-III and Na-I ions, which are linked by ortho-vanillin (o-vanillin) ligands to form a mono-periodic chain-like coordination polymer. The chains propagate along the [001] direction. Residual electron density of disordered solvent molecules in the void space could not be reasonably modeled, thus the SQUEEZE function was applied. The structural, vibrational, and optical properties are reported.