Two different one‐dimensional supramolecular chains formed from the reaction of 2‐[1‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl]quinoline with two different precursors,Co(NO3)2 and CoCl2

Two different one‐dimensional supramolecular chains with Co^II cations have been synthesized based on the semi‐rigid ligand 2‐1‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl]quinoline (L), obtained by condensation of 2‐(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)quinoline and 4‐(chloromethyl)pyridine hydrochloride. Starting from different Co^II salts, two new compounds have been obtained, viz. catena‐polydinitratocobalt(II)]‐μ‐2‐1‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl]quinoline] dichloromethane monosolvate acetonitrile monosolvate], {Co(NO₃)₂(C₂₂H₁₆N₄)]·CH₂Cl₂·CH₃CN}_n, (I) and catena‐polydichloridocobalt(II)]‐μ‐2‐1‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl]quinoline] methanol disolvate], {CoCl₂(C₂₂H₁₆N₄)]·2CH₃OH}_n, (II). In (I), the Co^II centres lie in a distorted octahedral CoN₃O₃] coordination environment. {Co(NO₃)₂L}_n units form one‐dimensional helical chains, where the L ligand has different directions of twist. The helical chains stack together via interchain π–π interactions to form a two‐dimensional sheet, and another type of π–π interaction further connects neighbouring sheets into a three‐dimensional framework with hexagonal channels, in which the acetonitrile molecules and disordered dichloromethane molecules are located. In (II), the Co^II centres lie in a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal CoCl₂N₃] coordination environment. {CoCl₂L}_n units form one‐dimensional chains. The chains interact via C—H...π and C—H...Cl interactions. The result is that two‐dimensional sheets are generated, which are further linked into a three‐dimensional framework via interlayer C—H...Cl interactions. When viewed down the crystallographic b axis, the methanol solvent molecules are located in an orderly manner in wave‐like channels.