Assembly of 1D and 3D cobalt(II) coordination polymers based on isophthalic acid and flexible benzimidazolyl-based ligands

Two new metal–organic coordination polymers {Co(L1)(nip)]·H₂O} _n (1) and Co(L2)(ip)] _n (2) (H₂ip = isophthalic acid, L1 = 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, L2 = 1,4-bis(5-methylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, H₂nip = 5-nitroisophthalic acid) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The analysis reveals that complex 1 has a 1D double chain structure connected by L1 and nip^2? ligands, which is further assembled into a 3D bbf (moganite network) supermolecular framework via two types of C–H···O hydrogen bond interactions. Complex 2 possesses a 3D MOF with a four-connected cds (CdSO₄ network) topology. The fluorescence and catalytic properties of the complexes for the degradation of Congo red have been investigated.