Tripodal phenylamine-based ligands and their CoII complexes.

The syntheses of two phenylamine-based ligand systems, N(o-PhNH(2))(3) and N(o-PhNHC(O)(i)Pr)(3), are reported. These ligands readily coordinate to Co(II) to form monomeric complexes. X-ray diffraction studies establish that the [N(o-PhNC(O)(i)Pr)(3)](3-) ligand stabilizes the Co(II) ion in a trigonal-monopyramidal coordination environment. The axial coordination site in this complex is accessible and, upon cyanide coordination, generates an electrochemically active species.