Bis(1,10-phenanthroline-κN,N')(sulfato-κO,O')cobalt(II) propane-1,3-diol solvate.

The title compound, [Co(SO(4))(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)]·C(3)H(8)O(2), was obtained unexpectedly as a by-product during an attempt to synthesize a mixed-ligand complex of Co(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and melamine via a solvothermal reaction. The Co(II) metal ions are in a distorted octa-hedral coordination environment formed by four N atoms from two chelating phen ligands and two O atoms from a bidentate sulfate ligand. The two chelating N(2)C(2) groups are almost perpendicular to each other [dihedral angle = 80.06 (8)°]. A twofold rotation axis passes through the Co and S atoms, and also through the central C atom of the propane-1,3-diol solvent mol-ecule. Inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds help to stabilize the structure.