Stabilization of a carbanion by co-ordination to a metal centre. The structure of 11-methylamino-6,16-dinitro-4,8,14,18,21-penta-azatetracyclo-[14.4.2.13,19. 19,13]tetracos-4-enato(6)cobalt(III) tetrachlorozincate hydrate

Abstract

The condensation of [cobalt(III)(1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane)₂]³⁺ with formaldehyde and nitromethane under basic conditions leads to the title complex encapsulating ligand in which a carbanion is stabilized by delocalisation and the strain developed by co-ordination of the ligand to the metal centre following an apparent intramolecular organic redox reaction.