In situ formation of new organic ligands to construct two novel self-charge-transfer Pb(ii)-based frameworksElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Simulated and experimental X-ray powder diffraction pattern, UV-Vis absorption, Magnetic properties, TGA curve and IR spectra. CCDC reference numbers 836172 and 836173. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c1ce06006f

Employing in situ -formed new organic ligands, two Pb( ii )-based metal-organic frameworks were synthesized. Compound 1 possesses a 3D framework while compound 2 has a layered structure. Solid state UV-visible absorptions indicate that the two compounds are semiconductors with band gaps of 1.70 and 1.78 eV. Magnetic properties reveal that they are temperature-independent diamagnetic. Two self-charge-transfer Pb( ii )-based frameworks containing in situ formed organic ligands have bandgaps at 1.70 and 1.78 eV.