Fast and efficient direct formation of size-controlled nanostructures of coordination polymers based on copper(i)-iodine bearing functional pyridine terminal ligands

We report on the direct formation of 1D nanostructures of two coordination polymers based on copper(i)-iodine double chains decorated with ethyl isonicotinate or 2-amino-5-nitropyridine as terminal ligands. The use of different reaction conditions, e.g. energy of the formation process, solvents, and/or concentration of reactants, has allowed the control of the size of the fibres and ribbons directly formed in this process going from micron- to submicron- up to nano-size. We show experiments that direct the formation of materials kinetically versus thermodynamically controlled, adjusting simple experimental parameters. Finally, a morphological study on the Cu(i)-iodine bearing 2-amino-5-nitropyridine nanofibres has confirmed their reversible molecular recognition ability towards acetic acid vapours.