Flexible N-Donor Ligands Direct the Structural Characteristics of CoII Complexes: Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties

Solvothermal reactions of 3,3',5,5'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid (H4BPTC) and cobalt(ii) ions in the presence of two different flexible N-donor ancillary ligands afford two novel coordination polymers, {[Co(BPTC)0.5(bix)]·H2O}n (1), {[Co(BPTC)0.5(bpp)]·3H2O}n (2) (bix = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene; bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane). Their structures have been determined by elemental analyses, IR spectra, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, and powder X-ray diffraction. The pillared layered framework of 1 can be simplified to a (4,6)-connected net with a Schläfli symbol of (44·62)(44·69·82). Complex 2 manifests a bilayered structure, and can be simplified to a (4,4)-connected net with a Schläfli symbol of (55·8)(54·62). The thermal stabilities of both complexes and the magnetic behaviours of 1 are also discussed.