Trinuclear nickel and cobalt complexes containing unsymmetrical tripodal tetradentate ligands: syntheses, structural, magnetic, and catalytic properties?

Dalton Transactions Pub Date: 2016-07-28 DOI: 10.1039/C6DT02701F

Abstract

The coordination chemistries of the tetradentate N2O2-type ligands N-(2-pyridylmethyl)iminodiethanol (H2pmide) and N-(2-pyridylmethyl)iminodiisopropanol (H2pmidip) have been investigated with nickel(II) and cobalt(II/III) ions. Three novel complexes prepared and characterized are [(Hpmide)2Ni3(CH3COO)4] (1), [(Hpmide)2Co3(CH3COO)4] (2), and [(pmidip)2Co3(CH3COO)4] (3). In 1 and 2, two terminal nickel(II)/cobalt(II) units are coordinated to one Hpmide? and two CH3CO2?. The terminal units are each connected to a central nickel(II)/cobalt(II) cation through one oxygen atom of Hpmide? and two oxygen atoms of acetate ions, giving rise to nickel(II) and cobalt(II) trinuclear complexes, respectively. Trinuclear complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphous. In 3, two terminal cobalt(III) units are coordinated to pmidip2? and two CH3CO2?. The terminal units are each linked to a central cobalt(II) cation through two oxygen atoms of pmidip2? and one oxygen atom of a bidentate acetate ion, resulting in a linear trinuclear mixed-valence cobalt complex. 1 shows a weak ferromagnetic interaction with the ethoxo and acetato groups between the nickel(II) ions (g = 2.24, J = 2.35 cm?1). However, 2 indicates a weak antiferromagnetic coupling with the ethoxo and acetato groups between the cobalt(II) ions (g = 2.37, J = ?0.5 cm?1). Additionally, 3 behaves as a paramagnetic cobalt(II) monomer, due to the diamagnetic cobalt(III) ions in the terminal units (g = 2.53, |D| = 36.0 cm?1). No catalytic activity was observed in 1. However, 2 and 3 showed significant catalytic activities toward various olefins with modest to good yields. 3 was slightly less efficient toward olefin epoxidation reaction than 2. Also 2 was used for terminal olefin oxidation reaction and was oxidised to the corresponding epoxides in moderate yields (34–75%) with conversions ranging from 47–100%. The cobalt complexes 2 and 3 promoted the O–O bond cleavage to ~75% heterolysis and ~25% homolysis.

Graphical abstract: Trinuclear nickel and cobalt complexes containing unsymmetrical tripodal tetradentate ligands: syntheses, structural, magnetic, and catalytic properties
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