Diverse topologies of three cobalt(II) coordination polymers constructed from flexible bis(benzimidazole) and dicarboxylate ligands

Three cobalt(II) coordination polymers {Co(L1)(nda)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O} _n (1), Co(L2)(tbi)(H₂O)] _n (2) and Co(L2)(bpdc)(H₂O)] _n (3) (L1 = 1,3-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-yl)-2-propanol, L2 = 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-yl)-2-propanol, H₂nda = 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, H₂tbi = 5-tert-butyl isophthalic acid and H₂bpdc = 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Complex 1 exhibits a 1D loop-like structure, which is further extended into a 3D 3,3,4T31 network through two O–H···O hydrogen bonding interactions. Complex 2 displays a 1D ladder-like chain, arranged into a 2D supramolecular network with 3,3,4L34 topology via classical O–H···O hydrogen bonding interactions, whereas complex 3 features a 2D 3,4L13 layer structure and further assembles into a 3D framework with a twofold interpenetrating sqc65 topology through O–H···O hydrogen bonding interactions. The fluorescence and catalytic properties of these complexes for the degradation of Congo red in a Fenton-like process have been investigated.