Reactions of tris(oxalato)cobaltate(III) with two-electron reductants

The tris(oxalato)cobaltate(III) complex [Co(C(2)O(4))(3)](3-), E(o)(Co)(III/II)=+0.57 V) is readily reduced by the 2e(-) reagents, Sn(II) and Ge(II), in contrast to (NH(3))(5)CoCl(2+) and (NH(3))(5)CoBr(2+), which are unreactive toward these donors. Rates for the oxalato oxidant are only 10(-3)-10(-2) as great as those for vitamin B(12a)(aquacob(III)alamin, E(o)+0.35 V at pH 1), in accord with the suggestion that reductions of corrin-bound cobalt(III) by Sn(II) and Ge(II) occur predominantly through an additional path involving Co(i). Reductions of the oxalato complex by 2e(-) donors are taken to proceed by initial formation of odd-electron intermediates (e.g., Sn(III) and Ge(III)) which react rapidly with Co(III). Such a two-step sequence is in keeping with the observed behavior of the rare reductant, Ti(II), which is found to be oxidized by [Co(C(2)O(4))(3)](3-) more slowly than (independently prepared) Ti(III) under comparable conditions.