Pentadentate terpyridine-catechol linked ligands and their cobalt(III) complexes

A series of novel pentadentate terpyridine-catechol linked ligands were prepared, in which the terpyridine and catechol moieties were linked together by (CH2)n chains of different lengths (n = 4-6). Together with 1-methylimidazole, these ligands formed low-spin, six-coordinate Co(III) complexes. Two of the complexes (n = 4, 5) were characterized by X-ray crystallography n = 4, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 14.957(7) A, b = 10.585(9) A, c = 23.033(7) A, beta = 106.01(3) degrees, V = 3505(3) A3, Z = 4, R = 0.063; n = 5, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 8.848(7) A, b = 15.78(1) A, c = 25.455(7) A, beta = 93.90(5) degrees, V = 3544(3) A3, Z = 4, R = 0.056], which revealed similar structures around the Co(III) centers but different conformations for the (CH2)n linkers. The (CH2)4 linker showed a straight, symmetric conformation whereas the (CH2)5 linker showed a curved conformation that allowed the accommodation of one extra CH2 unit, suggesting that the (CH2)4 linker presents the "best-fit" length for these complexes.