An indirect generation of 1D M(II)-2,5-dihydroxybenzoquinone coordination polymers, their structural rearrangements and generation of materials with a high affinity for H2, CO2 and CH4.

A series of solid-state structural transformations are found to accompany desolvation of relatively simple coordination polymers to yield materials that exhibit unexpected gas sorbing properties. Reaction of 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene with M-II salts (M = Mg, or Zn) in an alcohol/water solution in the presence of air affords cis-M-II(C6H2O4-II)(H2O)(2)center dot 2H(2)O center dot xROH, (M = Mg, or Zn), crankshaft-like chains in which the absolute configurations of the chiral metal centres follow the pattern ... Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta Delta center dot center dot center dot, and are hydrogen bonded together to generate spacious channels. When crystals of the crankshaft chain are air dried the crystals undergo a single crystal-to-powder rearrangement to form linear trans-M-II(C6H2O4-11)(H2O)(2) chains. Further dehydration yields micro porous solids that reversibly sorb H-2, CH4 and CO2 with high sorption enthalpies.