Triaquabenzoatocalcium(II) monobenzoate: coordination polymer chains linked into a two-dimensional framework by hydrogen bonds.

In the title complex, catena-poly[[[diaquacalcium(I)]-mu2-aqua-mu3-benzoato-kappa4O:O,O':O'] benzoate], {[Ca(C7H5O2)(H2O)3](C7H5O2)}n, obtained by the reaction of CaCl2 and potassium benzoate in water, the Ca atom is eight-coordinated by four carboxylate O atoms and four water molecules. The structure consists of polymeric {[Ca(C6H5COO)(H2O)3]+}infinity chains alternating with layers of uncoordinated C6H5COO- anions. The nearly planar anions are linked to the chain by short hydrogen bonds to form a two-dimensional network.