Structural and electronic characterization of multi-electron reduced naphthalene (BIAN) cobaloximes

Reported here are the syntheses and characterization of cobaloximes that feature a bis(imino)acenaphthene (BIAN) appended ligand. The X-ray crystal structures and spectroscopy (H NMR or EPR) of the complexes within the series [Co(aqdBF)(MeCN)] (1), [Co(aqdBF)(MeCN)] (2) and [Co(aqdBF)(MeCN)] (3, 3′) are reported and the 3-electron reduced complex [Co(aqdBF)(MeCN)] (4) has been prepared in situ and characterized by H NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structures revealed the presence of a 6-coordinate Co species (1), a 5-coordinate Co species (2), and a 4-coordinate complex (3, 3′). In the case of complex 3, evidence from single crystal EPR spectroscopy (g = 2.017, g = 1.987; <10 G linewidths) in conjunction with DFT calculations indicate that the EPR signal originates from a delocalized ligand-based unpaired spin. The frontier orbitals obtained from DFT calculations on 1, 2, 3, & 4 support the electronic assignments that were observed spectroscopically. The cathodic cyclic voltammogram (CV) of the solvato congener in DMF solution, namely [Co(aqdBF)(DMF)], exhibits three reversible redox events near -1.0, -1.5 and -2.0 V vs. Fc/Fc. Catalytic proton reduction was observed by CV near the third redox peak. Compared with other cobaloximes (E = -1.0 V), the delay of catalytic onset arises from the existence of a series of resonance-stabilized intermediates.