Abstract
The crystal structures of 272 metal carboxylates were surveyed with regard to the prevalence of bilayer formation. Bilayers affect the chemical and physical properties of solids. In particular, solid-state reactivity may be greatly enhanced by the presence of 2-dimensional metal coordination polymers in a bilayer motif. Bilayer formation is common (≈60% of 2-D coordination polymers) for aliphatic 3-carbon acidate salts and complexes, and is dominant (92%) for salts and complexes of ≥4-carbon aliphatic acids. For aromatic unsubstituted acids, the percentage is remarkably low (32% of all structures in the class—most are 1-D coordination polymers), while addition of a spacer group between the carboxyl group and the aromatic portion leads to >90% bilayer/2-D coordination polymer formation. The above points and other subtle features are illustrated in this contribution, and strategies for planning the production of possible bilayer materials are proposed.