One- and two-dimensional cobalt(II) coordination polymers derived from flexible bis(benzimidazole) and aromatic carboxylate co-ligands

Two new coordination polymers, formulated as Co(L1)(btec)_0.5] _n (1) and {Co(L2)(bdc)]·H₂O} _n (2) (L1 = 1,3-bis(2-methylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, H₂bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H₄btec = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid, L2 = 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The cobalt atoms present different environments, with a trigonal pyramidal geometry in 1 and a distorted octahedral configuration in 2. Complex 1 shows a 2D (4,4) network linked by L1 and btec^4? anions, giving an uninodal 4-connected sql topology with a point symbol of {4²·6²}, while complex 2 displays a 1D ladder-like chain structure, which is further assembled into a 3D supramolecular architecture via C–H···π hydrogen bonding interactions. The fluorescence properties of both complexes have been investigated in the solid state.