Overall, compound 1 can be synthesized in three steps while only the last step is a solvothermal reaction (scheme 1). A reaction of freshly prepared cobalt(II) isobutyrate (Co(ib)2) and N-butyldiethanolamine (H2bda) in a molar ratio of 5:3 was carried out under similar conditions, however the reaction did not yield the final compound 1. Likewise, a reaction of the {CoII3CoIII2} precursor was carried out in DMSO under non-solvothermal conditions and heated at 100 °C; the recrystallization of the product provided same dark green precursor {Co5}. Thus, use of the precursor complex ({Co5} = {CoII3CoIII2}) along with solvothermal method is necessary for the synthesis of compound 1.