•A new coordination polymer [Zn(H1dimb)(Cl)]n has been prepared and characterized.•3D network with 2-fold interpenetrated (10, 3)-d (or utp) topology.•An unusual electrochemical property with kinetic study.A new coordination polymer, [Zn(H1dimb)(Cl)]n (1) (H1dimb = 2,5-di (1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzoate), is obtained by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction data and elemental analysis. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pccn, and its structure exhibits a rarely observed ultimate racemic 3D network with 2-fold interpenetrating (10, 3)-d (or utp) topology due to the presence of alternating arrays of left- and right-handed helices. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) data for 1 reveals that the metal-organic framework (MOF) is thermally stable up to 350 °C under a N2 atmosphere. Compound 1 also possesses interesting photoluminescent properties as expected for Zn2+ complexes of aromatic ligands. Photoemission spectra measured in the solid state reveal a very strong emission band centered at 417 nm. Cyclic voltammetric data reveal that the compound exhibits quasi reversible two-electron redox process in acidic aqueous solution and the surprising electrochemical behavior is attributed to the Zn/Zn2+ process.Download high-res image (248KB)Download full-size image