Syntheses,Structures, and Polymorphism of β‐Diketonato Complexes – Co(thd)3

Oxidation of Co(thd)₂ dissolved in different solvents has been investigated in air and oxygen atmosphere. In oxygen atmosphere and at the boiling point of the solvents this treatment leads to oxidation of Co^II to Co^III, but also to degradation of some of the thd ligands and formation of a new mixed‐ligand complex. Three pure‐cultivated crystalline Co(thd)₃ phases are reported: 1 (room‐temperature phase), 2 (low‐temperature phase), and 3 (metastable phase) and in addition there exists an amorphous Co(thd)₃ phase ( 4 ) with approximate composition Co(thd)₃·xH(thd); x = 0.06. Reaction of metal(II) oxides (MO, M = Mn, Fe, and Co) with H(thd) under air or O₂ atmosphere is an easy direct route to M(thd)₃ complexes. Structure determinations are reported for Co(thd)₃ ( 1 – 3 ) based on single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Modification 1 crystallizes in space group with a = b = 18.8100(10), c = 18.815(2) Å at 295 K; R(wR2) = 0.180, modification 2 in space group C2/c with a = 28.007(12), b = 18.482(8), c = 21.356(9) Å, β = 97.999(5)° at 100 K; R(wR2) =0.211, and modification 3 in space group Pnma with a = 19.2394(15), b = 18.8795(15), c = 10.7808(8) Å at 100 K; R(wR2) = 0.193. The molecular structures of 1 – 3 all comprise a central Co atom octahedrally co‐ordinated by the ketonato O atoms of three thd ligands. The transformation between modifications 1 and 2 is of a fully reversible second‐order character. Modifications 1 and 3 are, on the other hand, related by a quasi‐reversible cycle. Heat treatment (specifically sublimation) of 1 leads to 3 whereas re‐crystallization or prolonged storage at room temperature is required to regenerate 1 . Co(thd)₃ has sufficient thermal stability to permit sublimation without degradation. The various forms of Co(thd)₃ are all diamagnetic, viz. a confirmation of the Co^III valence state.