Syntheses, structure and properties of dinuclear Co complexes with bis(catecholate) ligands – Effect of a quinoline ring in the terminal group

Abstract

Two types of biscatechol, namely H4L1 (5,5′-(buta-1,3-diyne-1,4-diyl)bis(3-t-butylcatechol)) and H4L2 (5,5′-(ethyne-1,2-diyl)bis(3-t-butylcatechol)) were synthesized. In these ligands, two redox active catechol moieties are connected by one or two triple bonds. Also, tpa (tris(2-pyridylmethyl) amine), bpqa (bis(2-pyridylmethyl)(2-quinolylmethyl)amine) and pbqa ((2-pyridylmethyl)bis(2-quinolylmethyl)amine) were synthesized as terminal ligands of the tetracoordinated tripod type. In total, six dinuclear Co complexes were synthesized from these biscatechol and terminal ligands as follows: [Co2(L1)(tpa)2](BF4)2 (1), [Co2(L1)(bpqa)2](PF6)2 (2), [Co2(L1)(pbqa)2](PF6)2 (3), [Co2(L2)(tpa)2](BF4)2 (4), [Co2(L2)(bpqa)2](PF6)2 (5), [Co2(L2)(pbqa)2](PF6)2 (6). Of the six dinuclear Co complexes, complex 6, which was isolated as a mixed valent state CoII(HS)-[SQ-Cat]-CoIII(LS) compound, showed an absorption intensity at around 703 nm (MLCT bands) that increased with increasing temperature in acetonitrile solution. In addition, an investigation of the magnetic properties of the complex 6 with SQUID showed that the χMT value gradually increased as the temperature increased from 150 to 380 K. This suggests that a transition from CoIII(LS) (S = 0) to CoII(HS) (S = 3/2) accompanies the temperature rise. This means the steric hindrance and electronic effect of the quinolyl groups around the Co ion produce a coordination atmosphere weaker than that of pyridyl groups, with the result that the CoIII ions easily convert to CoII ions.