Crystal Engineering 4 (2001) 25–36 www.elsevier.com/locate/cryseng 1-D coordination polymers containing benzenedicarboxylate Susan A. Bourne a,* , Arunendu Mondal b , Michael J. Zaworotko b a Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa b Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA Received 31 October 2000; accepted 22 January 2001 (Refereed) Abstract The preparation and crystal structures of [Cu(1,3-bdc)(py) 3 ].11/2 H 2 O (1), [Cu(1,3- bdc)(py) 3 ].H 2 O.CH 3 OH (2), [Co(1,3-bdc)(py) 3 (H 2 O)] (3), [Co(1,3-bdc)(py) 3 (CH 3 OH)].H 2 O (4), [Cu(1,3-bdc)(py) 2 ](5), [Co(1,3-bdc)(CH 3 OH) 4 ](6) and [Ni(1,3-bdc)(CH 3 OH) 4 ](7) are described (1,3-bdc=1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid; py=pyridine). 1–4 form straight-chain 1-D coordination polymers with interdigitated pyridyl ligands that are engaged in C-H···π hydrogen bonds. 6 and 7 form similar 1-D polymeric chains, but the smaller methanol ligands allow the bdc groups to stack to form π···π interactions. 5 forms a rectangular 2-D grid structure with insufficient space for guest inclusion.  2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Inorganic compounds; Coordination polymers; Crystal structure 1. Introduction The field of crystal engineering is continuously expanding and its ability to offer rational design of solids is receiving ever-increasing recognition, so much so that the design of solid-state architectures based on “node-and-spacer” type methodology has become an accepted practice [1,2]. Over the past few years a large number of coordination polymers have been prepared using these methods. Typically the “spa- * Corresponding author. E-mail address: xraysue@psipsy.uct.ac.za (S.A. Bourne). 1463-0184/01/$ - see front matter  2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII:S1463-0184(01)00007-7