A pair of cobalt(II)-based hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), [Co(pca)2(bmimb)]n (1) and [Co2(pca)4(bimb)2] (2), where Hpca = p-chlorobenzoic acid, bmimb = 1,3-bis((2-methylimidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzene, and bimb = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized through infrared spectroscopy (IR), elemental and thermal analysis (EA), power X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analyses. X-ray diffraction structural analysis revealed that 1 has a one-dimensional (1D) infinite chain network through the deprotonated pca− monodentate chelation and with a μ2-bmimb bridge Co(II) atom, and 2 is a binuclear Co(II) complex construction with a pair of symmetry-related pca- and bimb ligands. For both 1 and 2, each cobalt atom has four coordinated twisted tetrahedral configurations with a N2O2 donor set. Then, 1 and 2 are further extended into three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional (2D) hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks through C–H···Cl interactions. Topologically, HOFs 1 and 2 can be simplified as a 4-connected qtz topology with a Schläfli symbol {64·82} and a 4-connected sql topology with a Schläfli symbol {44·62}, respectively. The fluorescent sensing application of 1 was investigated; 1 exhibits high sensitivity recognition for Fe3+ (Ksv: 10970 M−1 and detection limit: 19 μM) and Cr2O72− (Ksv: 12960 M−1 and detection limit: 20 μM). This work provides a feasible detection platform of HOFs for highly sensitive discrimination of Fe3+and Cr2O72− in aqueous media.

A pair of two-dimensional (2D) isostructural coordination polymers (CPs), {[Co(2,3-qldc)(H2O)]} n (1) and {[Mn(2,3-qldc)(H2O)]} n (2), where 2,3-H2qldc = quinoline-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized through IR spectroscopy, elemental and thermal analysis, power X-ray diffraction, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results have revealed that the fully deprotonated 2,3-H2qldc ligand connects the Co(II)/Mn(II) atoms with a μ 3-bridge to form a square-wave 2D network, which is further extended into 3D stacks through O–H···O, C–H···O hydrogen bonds and π···π stacking interactions. Topologically, 1 or 2 can be simplified as a 4-connected sql type with a Schläfli symbol {44·62} and a Shubnikov tetragonal plane net, or as a 3-connected fes type with a Schläfli symbol {4·82} and a Shubnikov plane net. The thermal stability and the solid state fluorescence properties of 1 and 2 were investigated.