Reactions ofN-trimethylsilyl-imidazole and-2-methylimidazole with anhydrous CoCl2 and [Co(Ph3P)2Cl2]; synthesis and physicochemical studies on two-coordinate cobalt(II) complexes

Abstract

Reactions ofN-trimethylsilylimidazole andN-trimethyl-silyl-2-methylimidazole with CoCl2 yield chloro(imidazolato)cobalt(II), (1), or chloro(2-methylimidazolato)-cobalt(II), (2). However, the corresponding reactions of [Co(Ph3P)2Cl2] cause total removal of Ph3P along with the substitution of both the chlorine atoms yielding bis(imidazolato)cobalt(II), (3), or bis(2-methylimidazolato)cobalt(II), (4), in the form of light blue microcrystalline solids. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, molecular weight, and magnetic susceptibility measurements, and i.r., reflectance and electronic spectra. The results are consistent with formulations as rare examples of two-coordinate cobalt(II) derivatives.