The Co-CH(3) Bond in Imine/Oxime B(12) Models. Influence of the Orientation and Donor Properties of the trans Ligand As Assessed by FT-Raman Spectroscopy

Near-IR FT-Raman spectroscopy was used to probe the properties of three types of methyl imine/oxime B(12) model compounds in CHCl(3) solution. These types differ in the nature of the 1,3-propanediyl chain and were selected to test the influence of electronic and steric effects on the Co-CH(3) stretching (nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3) frequency, a parameter related to Co-C bond strength. For the first type studied, LCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](0/+) ((DO)(DOH)pn = N(2),N(2)(')-propane-1,3-diylbis(2,3-butanedione 2-imine 3-oxime)), nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 decreased from 505 to 455 cm(-)(1) with stronger electron-donating character of the trans axial ligand, L, in the order Cl(-), MeImd, Me(3)Bzm, 4-Me(2)Npy, py, 3,5-Me(2)PhS(-), PMe(3), and CD(3)(-). This series thus allows the first assessment of the effect of negative axial ligands on nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3; these ligands (L = Cl(-), 3,5-Me(2)PhS(-), CD(3)(-)) span the range of trans influence. The CH(3) bending (delta(CH3)) bands were observed at 1171, 1159, and 1150/1105 cm(-)(1), respectively. The decrease in C-H stretching frequencies (nu(CH)) of the axial methyl suggests that the C-H bond strength decreases in the order Cl(-) > 3,5-Me(2)PhS(-) > CD(3)(-). This result is consistent with the order of decreasing (13)C-(1)H NMR coupling constants obtained for the axial methyl group. The trend of lower nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 and nu(CH) frequencies and lower axial methyl C-H coupling constant for stronger electron-donating trans axial ligands can be explained by changes in the electronic character of the Co-C bond. The symmetric CH(3)-Co-CH(3) mode (nu(CH)()3(-)(Co)(-)(CH)()3) for (CH(3))(2)Co((DO)(DOH)pn) was determined to be 456 cm(-)(1) (421 cm(-)(1) for (CD(3))(2)Co((DO)(DOH)pn). The L-Co-CH(3) bending mode (delta(L)(-)(Co)(-)(CH)()3) was detected for the first time for organocobalt B(12) models; this mode, which is important for force field calculations, occurs at 194 cm(-)(1) for ClCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3) and at 186 cm(-)(1) for (CH(3))(2)Co((DO)(DOH)pn. The nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequencies were all lower than those reported for the corresponding cobaloxime type LCo(DH)(2)CH(3) (DH = monoanion of dimethylglyoxime) models for planar N-donor L. This relationship is attributed to a steric effect of L in LCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](+). The puckered 1,3-propanediyl chain in LCo((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](+) forces the planar L ligands to adopt a different orientation compared to that in the cobaloxime models. The consequent steric interaction bends the equatorial ligand toward the methyl group (butterfly bending); this distortion leads to a longer Co-C bond. In a second imine/oxime type, a pyridyl ligand is connected to the 1,3-propanediyl chain and oriented so as to minimize butterfly bending. The nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequency for this new lariat model was close to that of pyCo(DH)(2)CH(3). In a third type, a bulkier 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl group replaces the 1,3-propanediyl chain. The nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 bands for two complexes with L = Me(3)Bzm and py were 2-5 cm(-)(1) lower in frequency than those of the corresponding L(Co((DO)(DOH)pn)CH(3)](+) complexes. The decrease in the axial nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequencies is probably due to the steric effect of the equatorial ligand. Thus, the nu(Co)(-)(CH)()3 frequency can be useful for investigating both steric and electronic influences on the Co-C bond.