Two new supramolecular compounds induced by novel vinylpyridine cationic templates: synthesis, structures and enhanced photocatalytic properties

Two novel complexes { (Pepy) [ Cu 2 (SCN) 4 ] } n ( 1 ) and { (Pepy) [ Cu 2 Br 4 ] } n ( 2 ) [Pepy=1-2-(Pyridinium-1-yl)-1-ethenyl) pyridinium] based on vinylpyridinium organic cation and cuprous salts have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffractometry. Compound 1 has a 2D polypseudorotaxane structure and compound 2 presents a 1D chain structure. Furthermore, the thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, the morphology and the photocatalytic performances were studied carefully. Remarkably, both 1 and 2 exhibited good photocatalytic degradation abilities towards some dyes. Graphical Abstract Two novel complexes { (Pepy) [ Cu 2 (SCN) 4 ] } n and { (Pepy) [ Cu 2 Br 4 ] } n [Pepy=1-2-(Pyridinium-1-yl)-1-ethenyl) pyridinium] based on vinylpyridinium cation and cuprous salts have been synthesized. They exhibited diverse structures and good photocatalytic properties.