Several new di- and tetracarboxylic [2.2]paracyclophane derivatives were obtained via Suzuki coupling between the appropriately brominated [2.2]paracyclophanes and 4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenylboronic acid. The reaction of one of these products, namely pp-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)[2.2]paracylophane (12), with zinc nitrate afforded a 2D coordination polymer comprising zinc-carboxylate paddlewheel clusters linked together by cyclophane cores. The zinc center is five-coordinated in a square-pyramidal geometry, with a DMF oxygen atom at the apex and four carboxylate oxygen atoms in the base.
