Magnetic investigations of a two-dimensional coordination polymer with a three-dimensional supramolecular framework: poly[[bis[μ2-1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butane]bis(thiocyanato-κN)cobalt(II)] dihydrate].

In the title mixed-ligand metal-organic polymeric complex, {[Co(NCS)2(C8H12N6)2]·2H2O}n, the asymmetric unit contains a divalent Co(II) cation, which sits on an inversion centre, two halves of two crystallographically distinct and centrosymmetric 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butane (BTB) ligands, one N-bound thiocyanate ligand and one solvent water molecule. The Co(II) atom possesses a distorted {CoN6} octahedral geometry, with the equatorial positions taken up by triazole N atoms from four different BTB ligands. The axial positions are filled by thiocyanate N atoms. In the crystal, each Co(II) atom is linked covalently to four others through the distal donors of the tethering BTB ligands, forming a neutral (4,4)-topology two-dimensional rhomboid grid layer motif, which is coincident with the (121) crystal planes. Magnetic investigations show that weak antiferromagnetic coupling exists between Co(II) atoms in the complex.