Chemistry of cobalt acetate. 7. Electrochemical oxidation of mu3-oxo-centered cobalt(III) acetate trimers

Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of five cobalt(III) acetate complexes CoIII3(mu3-O)(CH3CO2)5(OR)(py)3]PF6] are described, where py=pyridine and R=OCCH3 (A), H (B), CH3 (C), CH2CH=CH2 (D), and CH2C6H5 (E). Each is reduced irreversibly as observed by cyclic voltammetry at room temperature and at -40 degrees C in acetonitrile at scan rates up to 20 V s(-1), but oxidized reversibly to a mixed-valence Co(III)2Co(IV) species at approximately 1.23 V vs the ferrocenium/ferrocene couple. Controlled potential coulometry confirmed a one-electron-oxidation process. Spectroelectrochemical oxidation of A at 5 degrees C showed isosbestic points in the electronic absorption spectrum that showed the oxidized complex to be stable in solution for at least 1 h.