The title complexes [Al(Hcah)(H2O)2]·2H2O (A) and [Bi(Hcah)(H2O)]n (B), where H4cah = 2-[N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)aminomethyl] hydroquinone, have been synthesized and characterized using X-ray single-crystal structure determination, IR and elemental analysis. Both complexes crystallize in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 7.8660(16), b = 10.096(2), c = 19.053(4) and β = 93.50(3)° for A; and those for B: a = 9.2348(18), b = 7.9061(16), c = 17.141(3) and β = 102.64(3)°. In addition, further investigation revealed that the central Al(III) ion in the mononuclear complex A is in a distorted octahedral coordination geometry, while structural analysis reveals that the Bi(III) ion is in a distorted pentagonal bipyramid, forming a 2-D polymeric complex B, and the coordination network is a 2D 4.82 net. The TG analyses of A indicate two steps of water loss.
