Complexation of cobalt(II) by the hydrogenated form of N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneimine): the crystal structure of a trinuclear cobalt(II) complex

Abstract

The reaction of N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneimine), H₂salphen, with sodium sand led to the hydrogenation of both imino groups of the ligand for ⅓ of the amount of H₂salphen present. By adding CoCl₂·1.5thf (thf = tetrahydrofuran) to the ligand mixture a trinuclear cobalt(II) complex 1 was isolated, and its structure determined. Crystallographic details: space group C2/c(monoclinic), a= 37.070(5), b= 14.036(2), c= 32.754(4)Å, β= 102.07(2)°, Z= 12 trimeric molecules, and R= 0.084 (R′= 0.095) for 7332 independent observed reflections with I > 3σ(I).