LAUSR

Abstract Two novel one dimensional coordination polymers of cobalt and copper with 4,4′-oxybis(benzoic acid) (H2OBA) and N-donor ligand-1H-imidazole (IM), [Co(OBA)(IM)2(H2O)]n (1) and {[Cu2(OBA)2(IM)3(H2O)2]·5H2O}n (2) have been prepared by single gel diffusion technique at ambient condition using sodium metasilicate. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that both 1 and 2 belong to the triclinic space group P 1 ¯ . The grown crystals were further characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction studies, thermogravimetry, FT-IR and UV–visible spectral studies. The compound 2 possesses two different types of coordination environments around Cu(II) ions—Cu1 is five coordinated (distorted square pyramidal) and Cu2 is six coordinated (distorted octahedral). The two dimensional structures of both 1 and 2 formed as a result of hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions possess nanopores. Photoluminescence studies were also carried out.