Poly[(μ4-biphenyl-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylato)bis[μ2-1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene]dicobalt(II)

Abstract

The asymmetric unit of the title two-dimensional coordination polymer, [Co(2)(C(16)H(6)O(8))(C(14)H(14)N(4))(2)](n), contains one Co(2+) ion, half of a biphenyl-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylate (bptc) anion lying about an inversion centre and one 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (bix) ligand. The Co(II) atom is coordinated by three carboxylate O atoms from two different bptc ligands and two N atoms from two bix ligands constructing a distorted square pyramid. Each Co(2+) ion is interlinked by two bptc anions, while each bptc anion coordinates to four Co atoms as a hexadentate ligand so that four Co(II) atoms and four bptc anions afford a larger 38-membered ring. These inorganic rings are further extended into a two-dimensional undulated network in the (101) plane. Two Co(II) atoms in adjacent 38-membered rings are joined together by pairs of bix ligands forming a 26-membered [Co(2)(bix)(2)] ring that is penetrated by a bptc anion; these components share a common inversion centre.