Key indicators: single-crystal X-ray study; T = 293 K; mean (C-C) = 0.004 Å; R factor = 0.029; wR factor = 0.070; data-to-parameter ratio = 18.9.The title compound, [Co 2 (HO 3 PCH 2 CH 2 COO) 2 (C 10 H 8 N 2 ) 2 -(H 2 O) 2 ], was obtained by a hydrothermal method. Two sixcoordinate cobalt(II) ions are linked by two 2-carboxyethylphosphonate ligands, forming a centrosymmetric dimer. The dimers are further interlinked by O-HÁ Á ÁO hydrogen bonds andstacking [centroid-centroid distance = 4.2975 (5) Å ] to form a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. The compound is isostructural with the analogous zinc(II) complex reported recently [Ying, Li, Chen, Liu & Liu (2007). Acta Cryst. E63, m555-m557].
CommentRecently, the chemistry of metal phosphonates has been a research field of rapid expansion, mainly due to their potential application in the area of catalysis, ion exchange, proton conductivity, intercalation chemistry, photochemistry and material