A novel cobalt(II) coordination polymer with an unusual four-connected 4(2).6(3).8 topology.

In the cobalt(II) coordination polymer poly[[(mu(2)-benzene-1,3-dicarboxylato){mu(2)-1,1'-[2,2'-oxybis(ethane-2,1-diyl)]di-1H-imidazole}cobalt(II)] monohydrate], {[Co(C(10)H(14)N(4)O)(C(8)H(4)O(4))].H(2)O}(n), two crystallographically distinct Co(II) cations are four-coordinated by N(2)O(2) donor sets in distorted tetrahedral geometries. The Co(II) centers are connected by benzene-1,3-dicarboxylate (m-BDC) anions, giving two types of linear chains, which are further joined via meso-helical 1,1'-[2,2'-oxybis(ethane-2,1-diyl)]di-1H-imidazole ligands to yield a thick two-dimensional slab. The compound displays a two-dimensional four-connected 4(2).6(3).8 topology, which is unprecedented in coordination polymers.