Crystal structures of [Ln(NO3)3(μ2-bpydo)2], where Ln = Ce, Pr or Nd, and bpydo = 4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide: layered coordination networks containing 4(4) grids.

Three isostructural coordination networks of Ce, Pr, and Nd nitrate with 4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide (bpydo) are reported, namely poly[[tris-(nitrato-κ(2) O,O')cerium(III)]-bis-(μ2-4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide-κ(2) N:N')], [Ce(NO3)3(C10H8N2O2)2], poly[[tris-(nitrato-κ(2) O,O')praeseodymium(III)]-bis-(μ2-4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide-κ(2) N:N')], [Pr(NO3)3(C10H8N2O2)2], and poly[[tris(nitrato-κ(2) O,O')neodymium(III)]-bis-(μ2-4,4'-bi-pyridine N,N'-dioxide-κ(2) N:N'], [Nd(NO3)3(C10H8N2O2)2]. All three compounds are isostructural to the previously reported La analogue. The asymmetric unit of [Ln(NO3)3(μ2-bpydo)2] contains one lanthanide cation, two bpydo ligands, and three nitrate anions. Both bpydo ligands act as end-to-end μ2-bridges and display nearly ideal cis and gauche conformations, respectively. The bpydo ligands link the ten-coordinate Ln (III) cations, forming inter-digitating 4(4) grid-like layers extending parallel to (-101), where inter-digitation of layers is promoted by C-H⋯O inter-actions between nitrate anions and bpydo ligands. The inter-digitated layers are linked to sets of neighboring layers via further C-H⋯O and π-π inter-actions.