| Abstract: | The heptadentate Schiff base H3L reacts with cobalt(II) acetate in methanol to form the discrete dinuclear complex Co2L(OAc)2(OMe)(H2O)2 ( 1 ·2H2O). The reaction of 1 ·2H2O with NMe4OH·5H2O in methanol gives rise to displacement of the acetate by methanolate groups, yielding Co2L(OMe)3(H2O) ( 2 ·1H2O). Recrystallizations of the Schiff base, 1 ·2H2O and 2 ·H2O in different solvents, produce single crystals of H3L, 1 ·2.5H2O and 2 ·2MeOH, respectively. The crystal structures of 1 ·2.5H2O and 2 ·2MeOH show the cobalt atoms double bridged by and endogenous phenol oxygen atom and an exogenous methanolate oxygen donor, giving rise to Co2O2 cores with Co···Co distances of ca. 2.87 Å. |
