The stereochemistry and mechanism of cleavage of alkylcobaloximes by halogen

Abstract

The cleavage of alkylcobaloximes by iodine monochloride was shown to occur with a partial net inversion at the α carbon atom. The products, iodides or chlorides, are explicable in terms of electron transfer from the alkylcobaloxime followed by heterolysis or homolysis of the alkyl–cobalt bond, dependent on the nature of the alkyl group.