Diaquabis(5-carboxy-2-methyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylato-κ²N³,O⁴)cobalt(II)

The Co atom in the title compound, [Co(C₆H₅N₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂], is located on an inversion centre and exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry. It is trans coordinated by two N,O-bidentate 5-carboxy-2-methyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate monoanionic ligands with two water molecules in the axial positions. Each ligand is stabilized by a strong, almost symmetrical, hydrogen bond. Intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into layers, which are further linked into a three-dimensional supramolecular framework through O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the water molecules.