Cobalt(II)–Azido Coordination Polymers with Dicarboxylate and Di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methane Ligands Exhibiting Ferromagnetic Behaviors

Three new CoII–azido complexes, [Co3(L)2(o-BDC)2(N3)2]n (1), [Co3(L)2(m-BDC)2(N3)2]n·nH2O (2), and [Co2(L)2(p-BDC)(N3)2]n·2nMeOH (3) [o-BDC = 1,2-benzenedicarboxylate, m-BDC = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate, p-BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, and L = di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methane], have been constructed from di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methane, azido, and different aromatic dicarboxylates under hydrothermal conditions. Complex 1 takes a dia topology with the Co3 units as connecting nodes, and complex 2 is a two-dimensional sql layer that further extends to a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular network via π···π interaction between m-BDC ligands, while complex 3 forms a 3D pcu network based on Co2 units as nodes. The investigaton of magnetic properties of complexes 1–3 demonstrates that they all display ferromagnetic coupling between CoII ions but antiferromagnetic interaction between Co3 or Co2 units.