Binuclear complexes of Co(III) containing extended conjugated bis(catecholate) ligands.

Binuclear complexes of cobalt(III) have been prepared with 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxy-benzaldazine (H4thB), 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxy-5,5'-dimethoxybenzaldazine (H4thM), and 3,3',4,4'-tetrahydroxydimethylbenzaldazine (H4thA) as bis(catecholate) ligands that link metal ions separated by 16 A through a conjugated bridge. In one case, [Co2(bpy)4(thM)]2+, stereodynamic properties observed in solution by 1H NMR are associated with valence tautomerism, with formation of a labile hs-Co(II) species by electron transfer from the catecholate regions of the bridge. Electrochemical oxidation of the complexes occurs at the bridges as two closely spaced one-electron couples. Chemical oxidation of [Co2(bpy) 4(thB)]2+ with Ag+ is observed to occur as a two-electron process forming [Co2(bpy) 4(thB(SQ,SQ))]4+. Attempted crystallization in the presence of air was observed to result in formation of the [Co(bpy)2(BACat)]+ (H2BACat, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde) cation by aerobic oxidation. Structural characterization is provided for the H4thM ligand and [Co(bpy)2(BACat)](BF4).