A novel aquabis(isonicotinamide-kappa N-1)bis(2-nitrobenzoato-kappa O-2,O';kappa O)cobalt(II), (hereafter [Co(2-nbH)(2)(ina)(2)(H2O)]; 2-nbH: 2-nitrobenzoic acid; ina: isonicotinamide), complex was synthesized and characterized by using various techniques. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The magnetic properties of VO2+ doped [Co(2-nbH)(2)(ina)(2)(H2O)] complex were obtained by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The angular variation of EPR spectra shows that two different VO2+ complexes are present in the lattice. The FT-IR spectra of this compound were discussed in relation to other compounds containing 2-nitrobenzoato or isonicotinamide ligands. Thermal stability and reactivity of this complex were also studied by thermal analysis methods (TG/DTG/DTA). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.