Synthesis and X-ray crystallography of nonanuclear cobalt cluster and mononuclear cobalt complex: Effect of phosphine on the formation of cobalt complexes

Abstract

Nonanuclear complex [Co{Co4(µ4-O)(1-methylimidazole-2-thiolate)6}2](BF4)2 and mononuclear complex [Co(bis(1-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)disulfide)2](BF4)2 were synthesized using almost the same method and characterized by X-ray diffraction study. Although almost the same method was used during synthesis, the presence and absence of phosphine produced the nonanuclear complex and mononuclear complex, respectively. In addition, the mononuclear complex has bis(1-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)disulfide that can be obtained from the oxidation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiolate ligand. Therefore, phosphine ligand could prevent the oxidation of 1-methylimidazole-2-thiolate ligand.