Bis phenylene flattened 13-membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligand (TAML) for square planar cobalt(III)*

The preparation, characterization, and evaluation of a cobalt(III) complex [CO{(OC)2(o,o'-NC6H4NCO)2CMe2}(OH2)]- with 13-membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligand (TAML) is described. This is a square-planar (X-ray) S=1 paramagnetic (H-1 NMR) compound, which becomes an S=0 diamagnetic octahedral species in excess d(5)-pyridine. Its one-electron oxidation at an electrode is fully reversible with the lowest E-1/2 value (0.66V vs SCE) among all investigated Co-III TAML complexes. The oxidation results in a neutral blue species which is consistent with a Co-III/radical-cation ligand. The ease of oxidation is likely due to the two benzene rings incorporated in the ligand structure (whereas there is just one in many other Co-III TAMLs). The oxidized neutral species are unexpectedly EPR silent, presumably due to the -stacking aggregation. However, they display eight-line hyperfine patterns in the presence of excess of 4-tert-butylpyridine or 4-tert-butyl isonitrile. The EPR spectra are more consistent with the Co-III/radical-cation ligand formulation rather than with a Co-IV complex. Attempts to synthesize a similar vanadium complex under the same conditions as for cobalt using [(VO)-O-V(OCHMe2)(3)] were not successful. TAML-free decavanadate was isolated instead. [GRAPHICS] .