Exploring the effect of chain length of bridging ligands in cobalt(II) coordination polymers based on flexible bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole) ligands: Synthesis, crystal structures, fluorescence and catalytic properties

Two new Co(II) metal-organic coordination polymers have been hydrothermally synthesized using flexible bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole) ligands with varying chain lengths with 5-nitroisophthalic auxiliary ligand. 1 features a 1D looped-like chain consisting of two kinds of macrocycles alternately, and 2 possesses a 4-connected twofold interpenetrating diamond network structure. Moreover, the two compounds as a heterogeneous catalysts present high efficiency for the degradation of methyl orange dye in Fenton-like process.