We report the preparation, crystallization, and solid-state characterization of a spiro-biphenalenyl radical. The crystal structure shows that the radical is monomeric in the solid state and without intermolecular contacts that fall within the van der Waals atomic separation. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show Curie behavior (1 spin per molecule) throughout the temperature range 10−400 K, confirming the presence of noninteracting spins in the solid. The compound shows a room-temperature conductivity of σ = 0.05 S/cm, the highest yet for a neutral radical conductor. We suggest that the ground state of the radical corresponds to a degenerate Mott−Hubbard insulator. We postulate the presence of delocalized energy bands that are responsible for the transport properties but that are separated from the insulating ground state by an energy gap corresponding to the on-site Coulombic correlation energy. Given the presence of isolated molecules in the crystal lattice, the magnitude of the conductivity, the finding of band transport, and the width of the conduction band (0.5 eV) are unprecedented.

The Schiff base ligands 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene (L1, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 3.856(1) A, b = 11.032(2) A, c = 12.738(3) A, beta = 92.21(3) degrees, Z = 2) and 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene (L2, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.885(2) A, b = 4.613(1) A, c = 14.978(3) A, beta = 92.827(4) degrees, Z = 2) were used in the synthesis of four new organic-inorganic coordination polymers, each of them adopting a different structural motif. Synthesis, X-ray structural determinations, and spectroscopic and thermogravimetric analyses are presented. The reaction between Co(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O and L1 afforded a two-dimensional noninterpenetrating brick-wall structure, [Co(C(12)N(4)H(10))(1.5)(NO(3))(2)(H(2)O)(CH(2)Cl(2))(2)](n)() (1, triclinic, P1; a = 10.242(7) A, b = 10.802(7) A, c = 15.100(1) A, alpha = 70.031(1), beta = 75.168(11), gamma = 76.155(11), Z = 2), while Ni(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O combined with L1 yielded an interpenetrating three-dimensional rhombus-grid polymer, [Ni(C(12)N(4)H(10))(2)(NO(3))(2)(OC(4)H(8))(1.66)(H(2)O)(0.33)](n) (2, monoclinic, C2/c; a = 20.815(8) A, b = 23.427(8) A, c = 17.291(6) A, beta = 116.148(6), Z = 8). The reaction of Co(NO(3))(2).6H(2)O and L2 was found to be solvent-sensitive and resulted in the formation of two different noninterpenetrating compounds: [Co(C(14)N(4)H(14))(2)(NO(3))(2)(C(6)H(6))(1.5)](n)() (3, monoclinic, C2/c; a = 22.760(2) A, b = 21.010(3) A, c = 25.521(2) A, beta = 97.151(2), Z = 8), which adopts a two-dimensional square-grid motif formed by propeller-type modules, and [Co(C(14)N(4)H(14))(1.5)(NO(3))(2)(CH(2)Cl(2))(2)](n)() (4, monoclinic, P2(1)/n; a = 14.432(2) A, b = 14.543(8) A, c = 15.448(4) A, beta = 96.968(0), Z = 4), consisting of T-shaped building blocks assembled into a one-dimensional ladder-type structure. These four coordination polymers all exhibit impressive thermal stability. Thermogravimetric studies showed that after complete removal of the solvents, the frameworks are stable to temperatures between 234 degrees C and 260 degrees C.

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