Synthesis, Structures, and Photocatalytic Properties of Zinc(II) and Cobalt(II) Supramolecular Complexes Constructed with Flexible Bis(thiabendazole) and Dicarboxylate Linkers

Three coordination complexes, namely, [Zn(btbp)(3‐npa)] n ( 1 ), [Co(btbh)(3‐npa)] n ( 2 ), and {[Co(btbb)(5‐nipa)(H 2 O)] · H 2 O} n ( 3 ) (btbp = 1,3‐bis(thiabendazole)propane, btbh = 1,6‐bis(thiabendazole)hexane, btbb = 1,4‐bis(thiabendazole)butane, 3‐H 2 npa = 3‐nitrophthalic acid and 5‐H 2 nipa = 5‐nitroisophthalic acid) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods as well as by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Complex 1 features a fascinating meso ‐helical chain, which is further extended into a 2D supramolecular framework involving π ··· π stacking interactions. Complexes 2 and 3 show dinuclear structures. Complex 2 is further connected through C–H ··· O hydrogen bonding interactions to afford a 2D supramolecular layer, whereas complex 3 is further extended to a rare 2‐nodal (3,4)‐connected supramolecular sheet with a point symbol of {3.4 2 .5.6.7} 2 {3.8 2 } by O–H ··· O hydrogen bonding interactions. The electrochemical behaviors of the two cobalt complexes 2 and 3 were reported. Moreover, the luminescent properties for 1 and the photocatalytic properties for the complexes were investigated.