Thermal decomposition of pyridine-substituted cobaltic acetate in acetic acid

The thermal decomposition of [py(3)Co(3)O(OAc)(5)OH][PF(6)] in acetic acid solution in the absence of oxygen produced carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, picoline, and formic acid as the major products. The ratio of the products was affected by the water concentration and acidity of the mixture. Increased water concentration caused a decrease in methane and an increase in carbon monoxide. Decreased acidity resulted in an increase in methane and a decrease in carbon monoxide. Isotopic labeling experiments showed that some of the carbon monoxide originated as the carboxyl group of the acetic acid. Labeling experiments also showed that formaldehyde and formic acid could be converted to carbon monoxide under the reaction conditions. Two pathways leading to the formation of carbon monoxide were proposed; one involving the decomposition of glyoxylic acid and another involving the oxidation of the methyl radical by cobalt(III).