Crystal structure of catena-poly[[[diaquabis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoato-κO)cobalt(II)]-μ-aqua-κ² O:O] dihydrate]

The asymmetric unit of the title one-dimensional polymeric compound, {[Co(C₁₀H₁₁O₂)₂(H₂O)₃]·2H₂O} n , contains one Co^II cation situated on a centre of inversion, one-half of a coordinating water molecule, one 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoate (TMB) anion together with one coordinating and one non-coordinating water molecule; the TMB anion acts as a monodentate ligand. In the anion, the carboxylate group is twisted away from the attached benzene ring by 84.9(2)°. The Co^II atom is coordinated by two TMB anions and two water molecules in the basal plane, while another water molecule bridges the Co^II atoms in the axial directions, forming polymeric chains running along [001]. The coordination environment for the Co^II cation is a slightly distorted octahedron. The coordinating and bridging water molecules link to the carboxylate groups via intra- and intermolecular O - H⋯O hydrogen bonds, enclosing S(6) ring motifs, while the coordinating, bridging and non-coordinating water molecules link to the carboxylate groups and the coordinating water molecules link to the non-coordinating water molecules via O - H⋯O hydrogen bonds, enclosing R 2 ²(8) and R 3 ³(8) ring motifs. Weak C - H⋯O and C - H⋯π interactions may further stabilize the crystal structure.