This thesis describes the investigation of the coordination and supramolecular chemistry of three different types of pyridine-containing ligand with a selection of Ag(I), Cu(I), Cu(II) and Cd(II) salts. The ligand types are flexible and four-armed, rigid and four-armed and bent with two rigid arms. All the ligands also display the ability to form additional supramolecular interactions. Chapter one introduces supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering and covers background on several areas of current interest in these fields. Network structures, both coordination polymers and hydrogen-bonded systems, are discussed and topological analysis as a method of describing and comparing network structures is introduced. An outline of the ligand design, choice of transition metals and anions is given. Chapter two provides a review of flexible four-armed pyridine-containing ligands and their use in coordination chemistry. The synthesis and characterisation of three flexible four-armed ligands 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl-sulfanylmethyl)benzene (2tet), 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(3-pyridylmethyl-sulfanylmethyl)benzene (3tet) and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-pyridylmethyl-sulfanylmethyl)benzene (4tet) are given. The synthesis and characterisation of the Ag(I), Cu(II) and Cd(II) complexes formed with these three ligands are also given. The complex of [Cd(2tet)(NO₃)₄] was structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction and was found to be a discrete species. The complexes {[Ag₂(3tet)](ClO₄)₂}n̲, {[Ag₂(3tet)](PF₆)₂}n̲, {[Ag₂(3tet)](CF₃CO₂)₂}n̲, {[Ag₂(4tet)]-(ClO₄)₂�2MeCN�2CHCl₃}n̲, {[Ag₂(4tet)](PF₆)₂�6MeCN}n̲ and {[Ag₂(4tet)](ClO₄)₂-�3H₂O}n̲ were likewise structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction. All these complexes were three-dimensional coordination polymers. A comparison of the seven structures is given at the end of the chapter. Chapter three reviews rigid four-armed pyridine-containing ligands and their use in coordination chemistry. The preparation of the rigid four-armed ligand 2,3,4,5-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)thiophene (pyth) is given. The synthesis and characterisation of the Ag(I), Cu(I) and Cd(II) complexes formed with this ligand are also given. The complexes [Ag(pyth)](BF₄)�3MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲, [Ag(pyth)](PF₆)�MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲, [Ag(pyth)]-(CF₃SO₃)�2MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲, [Cu(pyth)](PF₆)�MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲ and [(Cu₂I₂)(pyth)]-(BF₄)�1/2CH₂Cl₂�H₂O}n̲ were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction. The complex with CuI was a two-dimensional coordination polymer, and the other four complexes were three-dimensional coordination polymers. A comparison of the five structures is given at the end of the chapter. Chapter four begins with a review of rigid angular bridging ligands and their use in coordination and supramolecular chemistry. The preparation of the ligand bis(4-pyridyl)amine (bpa) is given. The structural arrangement of bpa in the solid state was determined by X-ray diffraction. Complexes of Ag(I), Cu(I), Cu(II) and Cd(II) formed with this ligand were synthesised and characterised. The complexes {[Ag(bpa)(MeCN)](CF₃SO₃)}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](PF₆)�MeCN}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](ClO₄)-�2MeCN}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](ClO₄)}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](NO₃)}n̲, [(Cu₂I₂)(bpa)₂]n̲, {[Cu(bpa)₂Cl₂]-�3DMF�3/2H₂O}n̲, {[Cd(bpa)₂(NO₃)(H₂O)](NO₃)}n̲, {[Cd(bpa)₂(SO₄)(H₂O)]�3H₂O}n̲, [Cd(bpaH)₂(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₂]�2MeCN and {[Cd(bpa)(SCN)₂]�1/5iPrOH}n̲ were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction. All complexes with Ag(I) were one-dimensional coordination polymers, with two of them helical, the other three zigzag. Both complexes with Cu(I) and (II) were two-dimensional coordination polymers. One complex with CdSO₄ was discrete, with the bpa ligands mono-protonated, but all other three other Cd(II) complexes were three-dimensional coordination polymers. Seven of these complexes showed hydrogen-bonding interactions linking them together to form supramolecular structures of higher dimensionalities. A comparison of the twelve structures is given at the end of the chapter. Chapter five is a brief summary of the outcomes of this thesis.

This thesis describes the investigation of the coordination and supramolecular chemistry of three different types of pyridine-containing ligand with a selection of Ag(I), Cu(I), Cu(II) and Cd(II) salts. The ligand types are flexible and four-armed, rigid and four-armed and bent with two rigid arms. All the ligands also display the ability to form additional supramolecular interactions. Chapter one introduces supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering and covers background on several areas of current interest in these fields. Network structures, both coordination polymers and hydrogen-bonded systems, are discussed and topological analysis as a method of describing and comparing network structures is introduced. An outline of the ligand design, choice of transition metals and anions is given. Chapter two provides a review of flexible four-armed pyridine-containing ligands and their use in coordination chemistry. The synthesis and characterisation of three flexible four-armed ligands 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl-sulfanylmethyl)benzene (2tet), 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(3-pyridylmethyl-sulfanylmethyl)benzene (3tet) and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-pyridylmethyl-sulfanylmethyl)benzene (4tet) are given. The synthesis and characterisation of the Ag(I), Cu(II) and Cd(II) complexes formed with these three ligands are also given. The complex of [Cd(2tet)(NO₃)₄] was structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction and was found to be a discrete species. The complexes {[Ag₂(3tet)](ClO₄)₂}n̲, {[Ag₂(3tet)](PF₆)₂}n̲, {[Ag₂(3tet)](CF₃CO₂)₂}n̲, {[Ag₂(4tet)]-(ClO₄)₂�2MeCN�2CHCl₃}n̲, {[Ag₂(4tet)](PF₆)₂�6MeCN}n̲ and {[Ag₂(4tet)](ClO₄)₂-�3H₂O}n̲ were likewise structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction. All these complexes were three-dimensional coordination polymers. A comparison of the seven structures is given at the end of the chapter. Chapter three reviews rigid four-armed pyridine-containing ligands and their use in coordination chemistry. The preparation of the rigid four-armed ligand 2,3,4,5-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)thiophene (pyth) is given. The synthesis and characterisation of the Ag(I), Cu(I) and Cd(II) complexes formed with this ligand are also given. The complexes [Ag(pyth)](BF₄)�3MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲, [Ag(pyth)](PF₆)�MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲, [Ag(pyth)]-(CF₃SO₃)�2MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲, [Cu(pyth)](PF₆)�MeCN�CH₂Cl₂}n̲ and [(Cu₂I₂)(pyth)]-(BF₄)�1/2CH₂Cl₂�H₂O}n̲ were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction. The complex with CuI was a two-dimensional coordination polymer, and the other four complexes were three-dimensional coordination polymers. A comparison of the five structures is given at the end of the chapter. Chapter four begins with a review of rigid angular bridging ligands and their use in coordination and supramolecular chemistry. The preparation of the ligand bis(4-pyridyl)amine (bpa) is given. The structural arrangement of bpa in the solid state was determined by X-ray diffraction. Complexes of Ag(I), Cu(I), Cu(II) and Cd(II) formed with this ligand were synthesised and characterised. The complexes {[Ag(bpa)(MeCN)](CF₃SO₃)}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](PF₆)�MeCN}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](ClO₄)-�2MeCN}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](ClO₄)}n̲, {[Ag(bpa)](NO₃)}n̲, [(Cu₂I₂)(bpa)₂]n̲, {[Cu(bpa)₂Cl₂]-�3DMF�3/2H₂O}n̲, {[Cd(bpa)₂(NO₃)(H₂O)](NO₃)}n̲, {[Cd(bpa)₂(SO₄)(H₂O)]�3H₂O}n̲, [Cd(bpaH)₂(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₂]�2MeCN and {[Cd(bpa)(SCN)₂]�1/5iPrOH}n̲ were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction. All complexes with Ag(I) were one-dimensional coordination polymers, with two of them helical, the other three zigzag. Both complexes with Cu(I) and (II) were two-dimensional coordination polymers. One complex with CdSO₄ was discrete, with the bpa ligands mono-protonated, but all other three other Cd(II) complexes were three-dimensional coordination polymers. Seven of these complexes showed hydrogen-bonding interactions linking them together to form supramolecular structures of higher dimensionalities. A comparison of the twelve structures is given at the end of the chapter. Chapter five is a brief summary of the outcomes of this thesis.