Two 2-D multifunctional cobalt(ii) compounds: field-induced single-ion magnetism and catalytic oxidation of benzylic C-H bonds.

Two cobalt(ii) compounds, namely, {[Co(HL)(bpy)(H2O)2]·DMF}n (1), and {[Co(HL)(bpe)]·0.5bpe}n (2) (H3L = 1,3-bis(2-carboxylphenoxy)benzoic acid, bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, bpe = 4,4'-vinylenedipyridine), have been synthesized using cobalt(ii) transition metal salt with phenolic carboxylic acid and different N-donor ligands. The compounds were fully characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR), single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Both compounds exhibit 2-D (4,4)-sql networks but with a wavelike and a double layered arrangement, respectively. Remarkably, these two compounds not only exhibit field-induced single-ion relaxation magnetization but also exceptional catalytic activities of benzylic C-H oxidation (conv. 90.3-99%; sele. 98.1-99%).