The mol-ecule of the title compound, [Co(C8H6NO4)2(H2O)4], is centrosymmetric. It is a cobalt(II) complex, bearing two (2-nitro-phen-yl)acetate and four aqua ligands. The coordination around the Co(II) atom is distorted octa-hedral, defined by four O atoms of water mol-ecules in the equatorial plane and by two carboxyl-ate O atoms at axial positions. The dihedral angles between the benzene ring and the acetate and nitro groups are 61.90 (10) and 19.21 (11)°, respectively. The water mol-ecules form O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds with the nitro and carboxyl-ate groups, leading to a layered structural arrangement parallel to (001).
Keywords: cobalt(II) complex; crystal structure; hydrogen bonding.