Synthesis and characterization of picolinato and nicotinato cobalt(II) complexes containing tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine

Two new mononuclear cobalt(II) complexes [Co(ntb)(pic)](ClO₄) · (CH₃OH)_2.35 (1) and [Co(ntb)(nic)](ClO₄) · CH₃OH (2) were synthesized and structurally characterized, where ntb is tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, pic is the anion of picolinic acid, and nic is the anion of nicotinic acid. The X-ray analysis indicates that the Co(II) center is six-coordinate in distorted octahedral and five-coordinate in distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry for 1 and 2, respectively. In 1, the picolinate anion coordinates to Co(II) in a bidentate μ₂-N,O chelating mode. In 2, the nicotinate anion coordinates with Co(II) through a monodentate carboxylate oxygen. 1-D chain structures were formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the two complexes and π–π interactions are important for the stabilization of the structures.