A new coordination polymer {[Cd(BIPA)(DCPS)](H2O)}
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(1) was constructed with bis(4-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)phenyl)amine and 4,4′-sulfonyldibenzoate ligands. The complex 1 features (BIPA–Cd–BIPA)
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and (DCPS–Cd–DCPS)
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helical chains in a 3D architecture assembled via hydrogen bonds. A spectroscopic study of complex 1 in the crystalline state showed an intense red-shifted photoluminescence as compared with the ligands BIPA and DCPS2−, which can be attributed to the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transitions.