4,5-Diiodo-1- H -imidazole-derived linker ligand and Cu( i ) and Co( ii ) coordination polymers based thereupon

A new iodine-rich imidazole derivative 1,4-bis(4,5-diiodo-1 H -imidazol-1-yl)butane (bimbI 4 , 1) features multiple I⋯I interactions in the solid state. Using 1 as a precursor, we prepared 1D and 2D coordination polymers of Co( ii ) and Cu(I) – {[Co(bimbI 4 )Cl 2 ]·1.5DMF} n (2) and {[Cu 2 I 2 (bimbI 4 )]} n (3), respectively, also featuring extended systems of halogen bonds within their structures.