Unprecedented dinuclear Robson type macrocyclic complexes having two +iii metal ions in two compartments and the role of the diimino moiety on the stability of metal ion oxidation states.

The work in this investigation deals with the syntheses, characterization, crystal structures and catechol oxidase activity of four diphenoxo-bridged Co(III)Co(III) compounds of composition [Co(III)Co(III)L(Me-pn)(N3)4]·6H2O (), [Co(III)Co(III)L(Me-pn)(N3)4]·4H2O (), [Co(III)Co(III)L(Et-pn)(N3)4]·3.5H2O () and [Co(III)Co(III)L(Et-pn)(N3)4]·CH3CN·2.5H2O (), and two diphenoxo-bridged Co(III)Co(II) compounds of composition [Co(III)Co(II)L(Me-Me2pn)(N3)3]·2H2O () and [Co(III)Co(II)L(Et-Me2pn)(N3)3]·H2O (). In these compounds, H2L(Me-pn), H2L(Et-pn), H2L(Me-Me2pn) and H2L(Et-Me2pn) are four Robson type tetraiminodiphenolate macrocyclic ligands, in which the superscript Me and Et indicate that the dialdehyde components are 4-methyl-2,6-diformyl-phenol and 4-ethyl-2,6-diformyl-phenol, respectively, while pn and Me2pn indicate that the diamine components are 1,3-diaminopropane and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane, respectively. The Co(III)Co(III) compounds are further characterized by (1)H NMR spectra. Compounds and are prepared following a metal-templated synthesis, while compounds and are prepared by direct synthesis, which includes using a pre-isolated macrocycle, [H4L(Me-pn)](ClO4)2/[H4L(Et-pn)](ClO4)2, as a reactant. On changing the diamine component of the corresponding macrocycle from 1,3-diaminopropane to 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane, but otherwise following the similar reaction procedure (both direct and template), the Co(III)Co(II) compounds [Co(III)Co(II)L(Me-Me2pn)(N3)3]·2H2O (), [Co(III)Co(II)L(Et-Me2pn)(N3)3]·H2O (), [Co(III)Co(II)L(Me-Me2pn)(N3)3]·0.5MeCN·0.27H2O (; Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2014, 412, 38) and [Co(III)Co(II)L(Et-Me2pn)(N3)3]·MeCN (; Dalton Trans., 2013, 42, 4561) are formed, rather than Co(III)Co(III) compounds. Like compounds and , all the compounds show catechol oxidase activity (substrate: 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol). The kinetic parameters for , and have been determined. Their Kcat values are, respectively, 212.6, 188.0 and 191.3 h(-1). ESI-MS (positive) spectra of some representative cases (with and without the substrate) have been recorded and the positive species have been assigned well. Unprecedented and surprising aspects of the composition/structure and properties of the complexes in this investigation have been discussed.