Using a hydrothermal synthesis, the self-assembly of MnII ions and 1,4-bis(1-imidazol-yl)-2,5-dimethyl benzene with two dicarboxylate ligands, 2-nitrobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (2-H2ata) and 5-methylbenzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (5-CH3-H2ip) constructed two interesting coordination polymers: [Mn(2-ata)(bimb)]n (1) and {[Mn(5-CH3-ip)(bimb)1.5]·2H2O}n (2), where bimb refers to 1,4-bis(1-imidazol-yl)-2,5-dimethyl benzene. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. Complex 1 exhibits a 2-fold interpenetrated pcu net. Complex 2 shows an unusual polycatenated 2D+2D→3D framework. In addition, the solid-state photoluminescent properties of 1 and 2 were investigated at room temperature.
