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

The asymmetric unit of the title two‐dimensional coordination polymer, Co₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)₂]_n, contains one Co²⁺ 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 Co²⁺ 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 (10) plane. Two Co^II atoms in adjacent 38‐membered rings are joined together by pairs of bix ligands forming a 26‐membered Co₂(bix)₂] ring that is penetrated by a bptc anion; these components share a common inversion centre.