Cobalt titanate–cobalt oxide composite thin films deposited from heterobimetallic precursor

A single molecular heterobimetallic complex, [Co₂Ti(μ₃‐O)(TFA)₆(THF)₃] (1) [TFA = trifluoroacetate, THF = tetrahydrofuran], was synthesized, structurally and spectroscopically characterized and implemented as a single‐source precursor for the preparation of CoTiO₃–CoO composite thin films by aerosol‐assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD). The precursor complex was prepared by interaction of Co(OAc)₂.4H₂O [OAc = (CH₃COO^?)] with Ti(iso‐propoxide)₄ in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in THF, and was analysed by melting point, CHN, FT‐IR, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The precursor complex thermally decomposed at 480 °C to give a residual mass corresponding to a CoTiO₃–CoO composite material. Good‐quality crystalline CoTiO₃–CoO composite thin films deposited at 500 °C by AACVD and characterized through powder X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy show that the crystallites have a rose‐flower‐like morphology with an average petal size in the range of 2–6 µm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Co6H8(PiPr3)6: A Cobalt Octahedron with Face‐Capping Hydrides

A square‐planar Co₄ amide cluster, Co₄{N(SiMe₃)₂}₄ ( 2 ), and an octahedral Co₆ hydride cluster, Co₆H₈(PⁱPr₃)₆ ( 4 ), were obtained from metathesis‐type amide to hydride exchange reactions of a Co^II amide complex with pinacolborane (HBpin) in the absence/presence of PⁱPr₃. The crystal structure of 4 revealed face‐capping hydrides on each triangular [Co₃] face, while the formal Co^II₂Co^I₄ oxidation state of 4 indicated a reduction of the cobalt centers during the assembly process. Cluster 4 catalyzes the hydrosilylation of 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one favoring the conjugate reduction. Generation of the catalytically reactive Co cluster species was indicated by a trapping experiment with a chiral chelating agent.     

Coordination Chemistry of [Co(acac)2] with N‐Doped Graphene: Implications for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Reactivity of Organometallic Co‐O4‐N Species

Hybridization of organometallic complexes with graphene‐based materials can give rise to enhanced catalytic performance. Understanding the chemical structures within hybrid materials is of primary importance. In this work, archetypical hybrid materials are synthesized by the reaction of an organometallic complex, [Co^II(acac)₂] (acac=acetylacetonate), with N‐doped graphene‐based materials at room temperature. Experimental characterization of the hybrid materials and theoretical calculations reveal that the organometallic cobalt‐containing species is coordinated to heterocyclic groups in N‐doped graphene as well as to its parental acac ligands. The hybrid material shows high electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media, and superior durability and methanol tolerance to a Pt/C catalyst. Based on the chemical structures and ORR experiments, the catalytically active species is identified as a Co‐O₄‐N structure.     

A mixed‐valence complex of cobalt based on 3‐methoxysalicylaldoxime

A new tetranuclear mixed‐valence cobalt complex, namely di‐μ₂‐azido‐diazidodiethanolbis{μ₂‐2‐[(hydroxyimino)methyl]‐6‐methoxyphenolato}bis{μ₃‐6‐methoxy‐2‐[(oxidoimino)methyl]phenolato}dicobalt(II)dicobalt(III) ethanol disolvate, [Co^II₂Co^III₂(C₈H₇NO₃)₂(C₈H₈NO₃)₂(N₃)₄(C₂H₅OH)₂]·2C₂H₅OH, has been synthesized by the reaction of Co(OAc)₂·4H₂O (OAc is acetate) with 3‐methoxysalicylaldoxime (H₂mosao) in an ethanol solution. In the complex, the four Co cations all display distorted octahedral coordination environments and they are bridged by two κ²,κ¹,κ¹;μ₃‐mosao²⁻ ligands, two κ²,κ²;μ₂‐Hmosao⁻ ligands and two μ₂‐N₃⁻ anions to form a tetranuclear [Co₄N₄O₄] cluster. Adjacent clusters are connected through weak C—H...N and C—H...O interactions, resulting in a two‐dimensional supramolecular network parallel to the ac plane. The magnetic properties of the complex have also been studied.     

Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution in Neutral Water Catalyzed by a Cobalt Complex with a Softer Polypyridyl Ligand

To explore the structure–function relationships of cobalt complexes in the catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), we studied the substitution of a tertiary amine with a softer pyridine group and the inclusion of a conjugated bpy unit in a Co complex with a new pentadentate ligand, 6‐[6‐(1,1‐di‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐ethyl)‐pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl]‐[2,2′]bipyridinyl (Py3Me‐Bpy). These modifications resulted in significantly improved stability and activity in both electro‐ and photocatalytic HER in neutral water. [Co(Py3Me‐Bpy)(OH₂)](PF₆)₂ catalyzes the electrolytic HER at ?1.3 V (vs. SHE) for 20 hours with a turnover number (TON) of 266 300, and photolytic HER for two days with a TON of 15 000 in pH 7 aqueous solutions. The softer ligand scaffold possibly provides increased stability towards the intermediate Co^I species. DFT calculations demonstrate that HER occurs through a general electron transfer/proton transfer/electron transfer/proton transfer pathway, with H₂ released from the protonation of Co^II?H species.     

Template synthesis and characterization of cobalt(II) complex nanoparticles entrapped in the zeolite-Y

Zeolite encapsulated complex nanoparticles “[Co([18]py₂N₄)]²⁺, [Co([20]py₂N₄)]²⁺, [Co(Bzo₂[18]py₂N₄)]²⁺ or [Co(Bzo₂[20]py₂N₄)]²⁺” were successfully prepared by the template synthesis of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with [Co(N–N)₂]²⁺ (N–N = 1,2-diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminepropane, 1,2-diaminobenzene, 1,3-diaminobenzene) within the zeolite-Y. These complex nanparticles were entrapped in the Y-zeolite by a two-step process in the liquid phase: (i) inclusion of a Co(II) precursor complex, [Co(N–N)₂]²⁺@NaY, and (ii) template synthesis of the cobalt(II) precursor complex with the 2,6-diacetylpyridine. The new complex nanoparticles entrapped in the zeolite Y “[Co([18]py₂N₄)]²⁺@NaY, [Co([20]py₂N₄)]²⁺@NaY, [Co(Bzo₂[18]py₂N₄)]²⁺@NaY, [Co(Bzo₂[20]py₂N₄)]²⁺@NaY” were characterized by several techniques: chemical analysis and spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, UV/VIS, XPS, XRD, BET, DRS). Analysis of the data indicates that the cobalt(II) complex nanoparticles are encapsulated in the zeolite-Y and exhibit different property from those of the free complexes, which can arise from distortions caused by steric effects due to the presence of sodium cations, or from interactions with the zeolite matrix.     

Syntheses,structures and catecholase activities of homo‐ and hetero‐trinuclear cobalt(II) complexes constructed from an acyclic naphthalenediol‐based bis(Salamo)‐type ligand

A series of homo‐ and hetero‐trinuclear cobalt(II) complexes [Co₃(L)(OAc)₂(CH₃CH₂OH)(H₂O)] ( 1 ), [Co₂Ba(L)(OAc)₂] ( 2 ) and [Co₂Ca(L)(OAc)₂]·CHCl₃ ( 3 ), containing an acyclic naphthalenediol‐based ligand H₄L were synthesized. All the three complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV – vis spectra and single crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses. Comparative studies of the structures and spectroscopic properties are carried out on these complexes. All of the complexes show catechol oxidase activities in MeCN. Using UV – vis spectroscopy, we monitored the aerial oxidation of 3,5‐di‐tert ‐butylcatechol (3,5‐DTBCH₂) to 3,5‐di‐tert ‐butylquinone (3,5‐DTBQ), which confirms the essential role of these complexes in enhancing the catalytic reaction.     

Structural variation from trinuclears to 1D chains: Syntheses,structures and properties

Five complexes [Co₃(Hpmad)₆]·(4‐sb)₂·(CH₃COO)₂·(H₂O)₂ ( 1 ), [Co₃(Hpmad)₆]·(3‐sb)₂·(CH₃COO)₂·(H₂O)_0.5 ( 2 ), [Co(Hpmad)₂(4‐sb)]_n ( 3 ), [Co(Hpmad)₂(3‐sb)]_n ( 4 ) and {[Co(Hpmad)(SO₄)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n ( 5 ) [Hpmad is 2‐pyrimidineamidoxime, H₂(4‐sb) is 4‐sulfobenzoic acid and H₂(3‐sb) is 3‐sulfobenzoic acid], were prepared at room temperature. Complexes 1 – 5 were characterized by elemental analyses, single crystal X‐ray diffractions, powder X‐ray diffractions, infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analyses, fluorescence spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Complexes 1 and 2 possess the linear trinuclear Co²⁺ structures. Complexes 3 and 4 exhibit similar one‐dimensional (1D) chains. Complex 5 comprises the 1D helical chain. The change of anion in cobalt salt from CH₃COO^? to Cl^? to SO₄^2? leads to the structural evolution from the linear trinuclear Co²⁺ structure to the 1D chain to the 1D helical chain. Complexes 1 – 5 exhibit the Hpmad‐based emissions. The magnetic properties of 1–5 were also investigated.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and infrared spectra of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes with 4,4′‐dichloro‐2,2′‐[ethylene dioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol

Novel 4,4′‐dichloro‐2,2′‐[ethylenedioxybis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol (H₂L) and its complexes [CuL] and {[CoL(THF)]₂(OAc)₂Co} have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H‐NMR and X‐ray crystallography. [CuL] forms a mononuclear structure which may be stabilized by the intermolecular contacts between copper atom (Cu) and oxygen atom (O3) to form a head‐to‐tail dimer. In {[CoL(THF)]₂(OAc)₂Co}, two acetates coordinate to three cobalt ions through Co? O? C? O? Co bridges and four µ‐phenoxo oxygen atoms from two [CoL(THF)] units also coordinate to cobalt ions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and Electronic Influences on Rates of Tertpyridine−Amine CoIII−H Formation During Catalytic H2 Evolution in an Aqueous Environment

In this work, the differences in catalytic performance for a series of Co hydrogen evolution catalysts with different pentadentate polypyridyl ligands (L), have been rationalized by examining elementary steps of the catalytic cycle using a combination of electrochemical and transient pulse radiolysis (PR) studies in aqueous solution. Solvolysis of the [Co^II−Cl]⁺ species results in the formation of [Co^II(κ⁴-L)(OH₂)]²⁺. Further reduction produces [Co^I(κ⁴-L)(OH₂)]⁺, which undergoes a rate-limiting structural rearrangement to [Co^I(κ⁵-L)]⁺ before being protonated to form [Co^III−H]²⁺. The rate of [Co^III−H]²⁺ formation is similar for all complexes in the series. Using E_1/2 values of various Co species and pK_a values of [Co^III−H]²⁺ estimated from PR experiments, we found that while the protonation of [Co^III−H]²⁺ is unfavorable, [Co^II−H]⁺ reacts with protons to produce H₂. The catalytic activity for H₂ evolution tracks the hydricity of the [Co^II−H]⁺ intermediate.     

Studies of Nano－sized Co304 as Anode Materials for Lithium－ion Batteries

The structural evolution of the Co₃O₄ fine powders prepared by rheological phase reaction and pyrolysis method upon different temperature has been investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) topography. The electrochemical performance of Co₃O₄ electrode materials for Li‐ion batteries is studied in the form of Li/Co₃O₄ cells. The reversible capacity as high as 930 mAh/g for the Co₃O₄ sample heat‐treated at 600 °C is achieved and sustained over 30 times charge‐discharge cycles at room temperature. The detailed information concerning the reaction mechanism of Co₃O₄ active material together with lithium ion is obtained through ex‐situ XRD topography, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. And it is revealed that a “two‐step” reaction is involved in the charge and discharge of the Li/Co₃O₄ cells, in which Co₃O₄ active material is reversibly reduced into xCoO(3 ‐ x)CoO and then into metallic Co.     

Autologous Cobalt Phosphates with Modulated Coordination Sites for Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation

The correlation between metal coordination and electrocatalytic water oxidation performance is elusive in many cobalt‐based materials. Herein, we designed an ideal Co phosphate‐based platform to explore the effect of coordination environment on oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity. The cobalt geometry was modulated from octahedral to tetrahedral by simple removal of water ligands in Co₃(PO₄)₂?8 H₂O. Other features except the coordination structure in the two autologous materials remain similar. The two analogues display the same OER kinetics, but the anhydrous Co₃(PO₄)₂ exhibits a greatly enhanced OER activity. On the basis of Raman and operando XAS results, the higher intrinsic activity of the Co tetrahedral sites is because they facilitate the formation of active high valent cobalt (hydr)oxide intermediates during OER. This work not only brings insights of OER on Co‐based electrocatalysts but also provides a reference system to study the effect of metal geometry on electrocatalysis.     

The Photochemistry of [FeIIIN3(cyclam‐ac)]PF6 at 266 nm

The photochemistry of iron azido complexes is quite challenging and poorly understood. For example, the photochemical decomposition of [Fe^IIIN₃(cyclam‐ac)]PF₆ ([ 1 ]PF₆), where cyclam‐ac represents the 1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane‐1‐acetate ligand, has been shown to be wavelength‐dependent, leading either to the rare high‐valent iron(V) nitrido complex [Fe^VN(cyclam‐ac)]PF₆ ([ 3 ]PF₆) after cleavage of the azide N_α? N_β bond, or to a photoreduced Fe^II species after Fe? N_azide bond homolysis. The mechanistic details of this intriguing reactivity have never been studied in detail. Here, the photochemistry of 1 in acetonitrile solution at room temperature has been investigated using step‐scan and rapid‐scan time‐resolved Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy following a 266 nm, 10 ns pulsed laser excitation. Using carbon monoxide as a quencher for the primary iron‐containing photochemical product, it is shown that 266 nm excitation of 1 results exclusively in the cleavage of the Fe? N_azide bond, as was suspected from earlier steady‐state irradiation studies. In argon‐purged solutions of [ 1 ]PF₆, the solvent‐stabilized complex cation [Fe^II(CH₃CN)(cyclam‐ac)]⁺ ( 2 red ) together with the azide radical (N₃^.) is formed with a relative yield of 80 %, as evidenced by the appearance of their characteristic vibrational resonances. Strikingly, step‐scan experiments with a higher time resolution reveal the formation of azide anions (N₃^?) during the first 500 ns after photolysis, with a yield of 20 %. These azide ions can subsequently react thermally with 2 red to form [Fe^IIN₃(cyclam‐ac)] ( 1 red ) as a secondary product of the photochemical decomposition of 1 . Molecular oxygen was further used to quench 1 red and 2 red to form what seems to be the elusive complex [Fe(O₂)(cyclam‐ac)]⁺ ( 6 ).     

Visible‐Light‐Induced Water Oxidation Mediated by a Mononuclear‐Cobalt(II)‐Substituted Silicotungstate

A mononuclear‐cobalt(II)‐substituted silicotungstate, K₁₀[Co(H₂O)₂(γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₅)₂] ? 23 H₂O (POM‐ 1 ), has been evaluated as a light‐driven water‐oxidation catalyst. With in situ photogenerated [Ru(bpy)₃]³⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) as the oxidant, quite high catalytic turnover number (TON; 313), turnover frequency (TOF; 3.2 s^?1), and quantum yield (Φ_QY; 27 %) for oxygen evolution at pH 9.0 were acquired. Comparison experiments with its structural analogues, namely [Ni(H₂O)₂(γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₅)₂]^10? (POM‐ 2 ) and [Mn(H₂O)₂(γ‐SiW₁₀O₃₅)₂]^10? (POM‐ 3 ), gave the conclusion that the cobalt center in POM‐ 1 is the active site. The hydrolytic stability of the title polyoxometalate (POM) was confirmed by extensive experiments, including UV/Vis spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and cathodic adsorption stripping analysis (CASA). As the [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺/visible light/sodium persulfate system was introduced, a POM–photosensitizer complex formed within minutes before visible‐light irradiation. It was demonstrated that this complex functioned as the active species, which remained intact after the oxygen‐evolution reaction. Multiple experimental parameters were investigated and the catalytic activity was also compared with the well‐studied POM‐based water‐oxidation catalysts (i.e., [Co₄(H₂O)₂(α‐PW₉O₃₄)₂]^10? (Co₄‐POM) and [Co^IIICo^II(H₂O)W₁₁O₃₉]^7? (Co₂‐POM)) under optimum conditions.     

Cobalt Hydroxide Nanosheets and Their Thermal Decomposition to Cobalt Oxide Nanorings

We demonstrate herein that single‐crystalline β‐cobalt hydroxide (β‐Co(OH)₂) nanosheets can be successfully synthesized in large quantities by a facile hydrothermal synthetic method with aqueous cobalt nitrate as the cobalt source and triethylamine as both an alkaline and a complexing reagent. This synthetic method has good prospects for the future large‐scale production of single‐crystalline β‐Co(OH)₂ nanosheets owing to its high yield, low cost, and simple reaction apparatus. Single‐crystalline porous nanosheets and nanorings of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) were obtained by a thermal‐decomposition method with single‐crystalline β‐Co(OH)₂ nanosheets as the precursor. A probable mechanism of formation of β‐Co(OH)₂ nanosheets, porous Co₃O₄ nanosheets, and Co₃O₄ nanorings was proposed on the basis of the experimental results.     

Synthesis,Magnetic Properties,and STM Spectroscopy of Cobalt(II) Cubanes [CoII4(Cl)4(HL)4]

Reaction of cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate with N‐substituted diethanolamines H₂L^2–4 ( 3 ) in the presence of LiH in anhydrous THF leads under anaerobic conditions to the formation of three isostructural tetranuclear cobalt(II) complexes [Co^II₄(Cl)₄(HL^2–4)₄] ( 4 ) with a [Co₄(μ₃‐O)₄]⁴⁺ cubane core. According to X‐ray structural analyses, the complexes 4 a , c crystallize in the tetragonal space group I4₁/a, whereas for complex 4 b the tetragonal space group P$\bar 4$ was found. In the solid state the orientation of the cubane cores and the formation of a 3D framework were controlled by the ligand substituents of the cobalt(II) cubanes 4 . This also allowed detailed magnetic investigations on single crystals. The analysis of the SQUID magnetic susceptibility data for 4 a gave intramolecular ferromagnetic couplings of the cobalt(II) ions (J₁≈20.4 K, J₂≈7.6 K), resulting in an S=6 ground‐state multiplet. The anisotropy was found to be of the easy‐axis type (D=?1.55 K) with a resulting anisotropy barrier of Δ≈55.8 K. Two‐dimensional electron‐gas (2DEG) Hall magnetization measurements revealed that complex 4 a is a single‐molecule magnet and shows hysteretic magnetization characteristics with typical temperature and sweep‐rate dependencies below a blocking temperature of about 4.4 K. The hysteresis loops collapse at zero field owing to fast quantum tunneling of the magnetization (QTM). The structural and electronic properties of cobalt(II) cubane 4 a , deposited on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface, were investigated by means of STM and current imaging tunneling spectroscopy (CITS) at RT and standard atmospheric pressure. In CITS measurements the rather large contrast found at the expected locations of the metal centers of the molecules indicated the presence of a strongly localized LUMO.     

Organometallic Heterocubane Clusters with Co–O and Co–S Framework

The reaction of [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co}₂(μ-η⁶:η⁶-toluene)] with water under different conditions leads to formation of the clusters [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co}₃(μ₃-O)₂] (1), [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co}₄(μ₃-OH)₄] (2) and [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co}₃(μ₃-OH)₄]₂Co (3), whereas its reaction with hydrogen sulfide leads to [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co}₃(μ₃-S)₄]Co(μ₃-S)₂[(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co]₂ · Et₂O (4). 1, 2 and 4 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 is composed of a central Co₃O₂ unit, with two O^2- units in an apical postion. The three cobalt atoms form a regular triangle with Co–Co distances of 2.438(2) Å, and the two oxygen atoms are located in apical positions of the triangular arrangement. The pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) ligands are terminally bonded to the Co atoms in a η⁵-fashion. The Co and O atoms of 2 form a cubane-type Co₄O₄ cluster, with η⁵-bonded Cp* ligands. The central unit of 3 consists of a Co₇O₈ double cubane framework. Two Co₄O₄ cluster sharing a common corner (Co atom). Each of the other six Co atoms of the double cubane bound terminally a Cp* ligand. 4 is composed of a [{(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co }₂(μ₃-S)₄](μ₃-S)₂[(η⁵-Me₅C₅)Co]₂ and an ether molecule. 4 contains a central Co₄S₄ cubane-like unit. One of the four Co atoms is bonded via two μ₃-S atoms to two additional (η⁵-Cp*Co) units. The other three Co atoms are η⁵-coordinated to a Cp* ligand.     

Syntheses,Characterization and Equilibrium between Mono—and Aqua—bridged Dicobalt（Ⅱ）Complexes.A Structural Model for Methionine Aminopeptidase

A monomeric complex [Co(Im)₂(O₂CMe)2] (1) and a novel aquabridged dimeric complex [Co₂(μ‐H₂O)(μ‐CMe)₂(Im)₄‐(O₂CMe)₂] (2) (Im = imidazole) have been synthesized and characterized. Complexes 1 and 2 coexisted in solution. Pure forms of either complex can be obtained from the same solution by controlling the crystallization conditions. All two complexes possess a carboxylate‐Im‐cobalt(II) triad system analogous to the carboxylate‐histidine‐metal triad systems that have been found in many zinc enzymes and cobalt(II)‐substituted enzymes. In 2, two Co²⁺ ions are connected by a water molecule in a bridging fashion with Co°Co [0.3687(1) nm], Co—OH₂ [0.2159(3) nm], and Co‐OH₂‐Co [117.2(3)°], in which the water molecule is further stabilized by two intramolecular hydrogen bonds with the oxygens of the terminal monodentate acetate groups with the distance of O…0 [0.2609(7) nm]. The terminal monodentate acetate groups display quite abnormal geometry due to the strong “pulling effect” on the carboxylates by intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Complex 2 showed weak antiferromagnetic coupling at low temperature with g = 2.22 and J = ?1.60 cm^?1.     

Amide‐Based Nonheme Cobalt(III) Olefin Epoxidation Catalyst: Partition of Multiple Active Oxidants CoVO,CoIVO,and CoIII?OO(O)CR

A mononuclear nonheme cobalt(III) complex of a tetradentate ligand containing two deprotonated amide moieties, [Co(bpc)Cl₂][Et₄N] ( 1 ; H₂bpc=4,5‐dichloro‐1,2‐bis(2‐pyridine‐2‐carboxamido)benzene), was prepared and then characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV/Vis, and EPR spectroscopy, and X‐ray crystallography. This nonheme Co^III complex catalyzes olefin epoxidation upon treatment with meta‐chloroperbenzoic acid. It is proposed that complex 1 shows partitioning between the heterolytic and homolytic cleavage of an O? O bond to afford Co^V?O ( 3 ) and Co^IV?O ( 4 ) intermediates, proposed to be responsible for the stereospecific olefin epoxidation and radical‐type oxidations, respectively. Moreover, under extreme conditions, in which the concentration of an active substrate is very high, the Co? OOC(O)R ( 2 ) species is a possible reactive species for epoxidation. Furthermore, partitioning between heterolysis and homolysis of the O? O bond of the intermediate 2 might be very sensitive to the nature of the solvent, and the O? O bond of the Co? OOC(O)R species might proceed predominantly by heterolytic cleavage, even in the presence of small amounts of protic solvent, to produce a discrete Co^V?O intermediate as the dominant reactive species. Evidence for these multiple active oxidants was derived from product analysis, the use of peroxyphenylacetic acid as the peracid, and EPR measurements. The results suggest that a less accessible Co^V?O moiety can form in a system in which the supporting chelate ligand comprises a mixture of neutral and anionic nitrogen donors.     

A Hydrogen‐Bonded Cyanide‐Bridged [Co2Fe2] Square Complex Exhibiting a Three‐Step Spin Transition

Co‐crystallization of a cyanide‐bridged tetranuclear complex [Co₂Fe₂] with 4‐cyanophenol (CP) gave a hydrogen bonding donor–acceptor system, [Co₂Fe₂(bpy*)₄(CN)₆(tp*)₂](PF₆)₂⋅2 CP⋅8 BN ( 1 ). 1 exhibited a three‐step phase transition between HT, IM1, IM2, and LT phases upon temperature variation. Variable temperature magnetic measurements and structural analyses revealed that the three‐step spin transition is caused by electron‐transfer‐coupled spin transitions (ETCSTs) accompanied with alteration of the hydrogen bonding interactions.