Electron spin resonance studies of the anaerobic and aerobic photolysis of alkylcobaloximes

Aerobic and anaerobic photolysis of methyl(pyridine)cobaloxime, benzyl(pyridine)cobaloxime and analogous compounds in CHCl₃ results only in an electron transfer reaction from an equatorial ligand producing photo-reduction of Co^III to Co^II, the complex retaining its axial ligands.If after the anaerobic photolysis of benzyl(pyridine)cobaloxime the oxygen is introduced without any further photolysis we obtain an ESR spectrum of nitroxide, arising from the attack of a benzyl radical on the dimethylglyoxime equatorial ligand.For the other complexes, homolytic cleavage of the CoC bond occurs and in the presence of oxygen gives rise to the superoxide cobalt complex adduct Py(Co^IIIO₂^?.During photolysis of methyl(pyridine)cobaloxime in isopropanol homolytic cleavage of the CoC bond occurs in preference to electron transfer reaction from the equatorial ligands.The anaerobic photolysis of benzyl(pyridine)cobaloxime in isopropanol or in water at 113–133 K results in an electron transfer reaction. However, at 170 K we observe the formation of the Co^II complex arising from CoC bond cleavage.A mechanism for photo-induced insertion of oxygen in the CoC bond is proposed.