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Updated: May 19, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Spectroscopic and magnetic properties of an iodo Co(I) tripodal phosphine complex
Michael J Rose1, Donatela E Bellone, Angel J Di Bilio
1Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Abstract:
Reaction of the tripodal phosphine ligand 1,1,1-tris((diphenylphosphino)phenyl)ethane (PhP3) with CoI(2) spontaneously generates a one-electron reduced complex, [(PhP3)Co(I)(I)] (1). The crystal structure of 1 reveals a distorted tetrahedral environment, with an apical Co-I bond distance of ~2.52 Å. Co(II/I) redox occurs at an unusually high potential (+0.38 V vs. SCE). The electronic absorption spectrum of 1 exhibits an MLCT peak at 320 nm (ε = 8790 M(-1) cm(-1)) and a d-d feature at 850 nm (ε = 840 M(-1) cm(-1)). Two more d-d bands are observed in the NIR region, 8650 (ε = 450) and 7950 cm(-1) (ε = 430 M(-1) cm(-1)). Temperature dependent magnetic measurements (SQUID) on 1 (solid state, 20-300 K) give μ(eff) = 2.99(6) μ(B), consistent with an S = 1 ground state. Magnetic susceptibilities below 20 K are consistent with a zero field splitting (zfs) |D| = 8 cm(-1). DFT calculations also support a spin-triplet ground state for 1, as optimized (6-31G*/PW91) geometries (S = 1) closely match the X-ray structure. EPR measurements performed in parallel mode (X-band; 0-15,000 G, 15 K) on polycrystalline 1 or frozen solutions of 1 (THF/toluene) exhibit a feature at g≈ 4 that arises from a (Δm = 2) transition within the M(S) = <+1,-1> manifold. Below 10 K, the EPR signal decreases significantly, consistent with a solution zfs parameter (|D|≈ 8 cm(-1)) similar to that obtained from SQUID measurements. Our work provides an EPR signature for high-spin Co(I) in trigonal ligation.
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