•A new arenedisulfonate coordination polymer is present.•The polymer efficiently promotes epoxide ring-opening reaction.•The thermal and luminescent properties in the solid state are evaluated.A new 1-D coordination polymer, {[Pb(Phen)(1,5-nds)(H2O)2]·H2O}n (1), was constructed from 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonate (1,5-nds), 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) and Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O with easily reachable lead sites, which can be subsequently used to promote the epoxide ring-opening reaction of epoxides and amines with remarkable catalytic activity. In addition, the thermal and luminescent properties of 1 in the solid state were also investigated.A new arenedisulfonate coordination polymer 1 with easily reachable lead sites exhibits high catalytic activity in the epoxide ring-opening reaction.

Three dinuclear Mn(II) complexes, [Mn2(EGTB)(NO3)2(H2O)4](NO3)2 (1), [Mn2(EGTB)(NO3)4] (2) and [Mn2(EGTB)(NO3)(H2O)](NO3)3 (3) (EGTB = N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2′-benzimidazolylmethyl)-1,4-diethylene amino glycol ether) were prepared and characterized. Their crystal structures revealed a relationship between synthesis temperature and structure. With increasing the reaction temperature from 60 to 120 °C or 160 °C, the Mn–Mn distances are shortened from 14.019 Å in 1, 7.662 Å in 2 to 5.662 Å in 3. Additionally, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of those three complexes was studied by measuring the rate of increase in absorbance at 320 nm of pyrogallol substrate. At pH 7.8 and 30 °C, the turnover numbers are 5.58 h−1 for 1, 11.38 h−1 for 2 and 13.97 h−1 for 3, respectively. Furthermore, in pH 7.8–8.2, their catalytic activity increased with rising pH.Graphical abstractThree new dinuclear manganese(II) complexes assembled with N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2′-benzimidazolylmethyl)-1,4-diethylene amino glycol ether (EGTB) have been synthesized through temperature-dependent synthesis. Interestingly, in the three complexes, the Mn–Mn distances are shortened with increase in temperature. Additionally, the study on the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of the three complexes toward pyrogallol reveals that, in the pH range 7.8–8.2, catalytic activities of all three complexes increase with increasing of pH values.Highlights► Three dinuclear Mn(II) complexes were prepared and characterized. ► Interestingly, there is a relationship between synthesis temperature and structure. ► In pH 7.8–8.2, the polyphenal oxidase activity of the complexes increased with rising pH.

The use of [Cd2(tren)2(dl-alaninato)](ClO4)3·H2O (I) (tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) as an efficient water-compatible Lewis acid catalyst for the allylation of aldehydes in aqueous media was described. The reaction proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding homoallyl alcohols in up to 96% yield. Additionally, cinnamyltributylstannane was selected as the allylation reagent, the regio- and diastereoselectivity of the reaction favors the formation of the γ-product and the anti isomers, respectively.In aqueous media, the dinuclear cadmium amino acid complex, namely [Cd2(tren)2(dl-alaninato)](ClO4)3·H2O can efficiently mediate the allylation of various aldehydes to afford the corresponding homoallyl alcohols in up to 96% yield. Additionally, the reaction of cinnamyltributylstannane has regioselectivity favoring the γ-products, as well as good diastereoselectivity favoring the anti isomers.