Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structures of 2D cobalt(II) and nickel(II) coordination polymers containing flexible bis(benzimidazole) ligands

Three coordination polymers, namely {[Ni(L1)(nip)(H2O)]·2H2O} n (1), [Co(L2)(tbip)] n (2), and {[Co2(L3)2(bptc)]·3H2O} n (3) (L1 = 1,4-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole)butane, L2 = 1,4-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole)-2-butylene, L3 = 1,3-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole)propane, H2nip = 5-nitro-isophthalic acid, H2tbip = 5-tert-butyl-isophthalic acid, H4bptc = biphenyl-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic acid), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods as well as by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1 and 2 both feature a two-dimensional (4,4) layer with (44 × 62) topology. Complex 3 possesses a uninodal 4-connected 2D htb network. The fluorescence spectra and catalytic properties of the complexes for the degradation of methyl orange by sodium persulfate in a Fenton-like process are reported.