Bis phenylene flattened 13-membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligand (TAML) for square planar cobalt(III)

The preparation, characterization, and evaluation of a cobalt(III) complex with 13-membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligand (TAML) is described. This is a square-planar (X-ray) S = 1 paramagnetic (¹H NMR) compound, which becomes an S = 0 diamagnetic octahedral species in excess d₅-pyridine. Its one-electron oxidation at an electrode is fully reversible with the lowest E _1/2 value (0.66 V vs SCE) among all investigated Co^III TAML complexes. The oxidation results in a neutral blue species which is consistent with a Co^III/radical-cation ligand. The ease of oxidation is likely due to the two benzene rings incorporated in the ligand structure (whereas there is just one in many other Co^III TAMLs). The oxidized neutral species are unexpectedly EPR silent, presumably due to the π-stacking aggregation. However, they display eight-line hyperfine patterns in the presence of excess of 4-tert-butylpyridine or 4-tert-butyl isonitrile. The EPR spectra are more consistent with the Co^III/radical-cation ligand formulation rather than with a Co^IV complex. Attempts to synthesize a similar vanadium complex under the same conditions as for cobalt using [V^VO(OCHMe₂)₃] were not successful. TAML-free decavanadate was isolated instead.