Cobalt coordination polymers of flexible bis(pyridine)-type ligands containing an intervening cyclohexyl group: [Co(L1)1.5(NO3)2], [Co(L2)1.5(NO3)2], [Co(L1′H2)2(NO3)](NO3)5(CH3OH), and [Co(L2′H2)(NO3)2(OCH3)2] {(n-py)CHNC6H10NCH(n-py) [n = 3 (L1) or 4 (L

Two relatively long, flexible bis(pyridine)-type linking ligands, {(m-py)CH2NHC6H10NHCH2(m-py) [m = 3 (L1′) or 4 (L2′)]}, were prepared from their parent diimine species [(n-py)CHNC6H10NCH(n-py) [n = 3 (L1) or 4 (L2)]} by reduction with sodium borohydride. Under solvothermal conditions, ligands L1 and L2 reacted with Co(NO3)2·6H2O in methanol–benzene to give a 1-D stair-like polymer [Co(L1)1.5(NO3)2] and a 2-D α-arsenic-type polymer [Co(L2)1.5(NO3)2], respectively. On the other hand, under layer-diffusion conditions, the reduced ligands L1′ and L2′ combined with the same cobalt species in the same mixed solvents to form a 1-D polymer of double layers of loops [Co(L1′H2)2(NO3)](NO3)5(CH3OH) and a 1-D chain polymer [Co(L2′H2)(η1-NO3)2(OCH3)2], respectively.