Effect of tether length and counterion in cobalt-dipyridine coordination polymers prepared via hydrothermal methods

Hydrothermal synthesis afforded three new cobalt coordination polymers containing 1,2-di-4-pyridylethane (dpe) and 1,3-di-4-pyridylpropane (dpp), whose structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Co(SCN)2(dpe)2 exhibits a one-dimensional chain-type structure with bound thiocyanate ligands. Co(NO3)2(H2O)2(dpp)2 · dpp · H2O also manifests one-dimensional chains, but with free nitrate ions and unbound dpp in the regions between the chains. Due to the increased tether length and conformational freedom of the organic moiety in Co(SCN)2(dpp)2, the material can adopt a doubly interpenetrated two-dimensional layered structure.