Second Auxiliary Ligand Engineering in the Construction of Functional Copper Coordination Polymers

Copper coordination polymers (Cu-CPs) have garnered significant attention due to their versatile structures and broad applications in catalysis, sensing, and agriculture. Among various design strategies, the engineering of second auxiliary ligands has emerged as a crucial approach to modulate the structural dimensionality, stability, and functional properties of Cu-CPs. By incorporating diverse ligand types such as aromatic carboxylates, bipyridines, and V-shaped heterocyclic compounds, researchers have achieved precise control over framework architectures and enhanced exposure of catalytically active sites. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in second auxiliary ligand design, their impact on the structural features of Cu-CPs, and the resulting improvements in performance, particularly in urease inhibition for sustainable agriculture and catalytic applications. Key synthetic and characterization techniques are also discussed. The insights provided herein aim to guide future developments toward multifunctional Cu-CPs with tailored properties for emerging technological needs.