Reactions of alkylcobalt complexes containing a tetradentate nitrogen-donating ligand

The reactions of RCo(BDM1,3pn)(H₂O) with light, heat, acids, electrophiles and nucleophiles were studied. (HBDM1,3pn is a mononegative, tetradentate dioxime-diimine ligand formed by condensing 2,3-butanedionemonoxime with 1,3-propanediamine in a 2/1 molar ratio; R = CH₃, C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, and C₆H₃CH_2-) Pyrolysis and photolysis of the alkyl complexes result in a cobalt(II) complex (anaerobic conditions) along with alkenes and alkanes. The major organic products from solid state pyrolysis at 200°C or photolysis in water are CH₄ (R = CH₃), C₂H₄ (R = C₂H₅), C₃H₆ (R = n-C₃H₇), C₄H₈ (R = n-C₄H₉) and (C₆H₅CH₂)₂ (R = C₆H₅CH₂). No alkyl—cobalt bond cleavage occurs with acids or bases in most cases. Two exceptions are the reactions with 3 M HNO₃ at 25°C and with 1 M NaOH at 52°C. Electrophiles like I₂ cleave the alkyl—cobalt bond forming RI and Co^III (BDM1,3pn)I₂. Nucleophilic reagents (N^-) displace the H₂O trans to the alkyl group to form RCo(BDM1,3pn)(N), but do not dealkylate the alkyl complex under the reaction conditions studied.