A dinuclear complex of cobalt(II) with 2,2′‐(1,4‐butane­diyl)­dibenz­imidazole

The title complex, [μ‐2,2′‐(1,4‐butane­diyl)di‐1H‐benzimidazole‐κ²N³:N^3′]bis{[2,2′‐(1,4‐butane­diyl)di‐1H‐benzimidazole‐κ²N³,N^3′](nitrato‐κO)cobalt(II)} dinitrate ethanol disolvate, [Co₂(NO₃)₂(C₁₈H₁₈N₄)₃](NO₃)₂·2C₂H₆O, was obtained from self‐assembly of cobalt(II) nitrate with 2,2′‐(1,4‐butane­diyl)dibenzimidazole (L). The complex molecule lies about an inversion centre and the flexible L ligands act in both bridging and chelating modes to form a dinuclear complex with unanticipated nine‐membered chelate rings. The unique uncoordinated nitrate anion is linked to the cation by pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which determine the overall cation conformation. Cation–anion sets are then linked by a further N—H⋯O hydrogen bond to generate a chain along [010]. Chains are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form sheets in the (100) plane.