A novel diiminopyridine ligand containing redox active Co(III) mixed sandwich complexes.

The synthesis of a diiminopyridine (DIMPY) ligand containing pendant mixed sandwich cobaltocene functionalities on the imine nitrogens was prepared and characterized (18). Its reactivity with 2 equiv of GeCl2·dioxane and SnCl2 in THF yields the respective Lewis base mediated autoionization products (18Ge and 18Sn). Analogous low-valent complexes utilizing an N,N'- differocenyl diiminopyridine support were also prepared (15Ge and 15Sn). All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic methods. Electrochemical studies were conducted for both 15Sn and the precursor of 18.