A masked two-coordinate cobalt(I) complex that activates C-F bonds

Thomas R Dugan; Xianru Sun; Elena V Rybak-Akimova; Olayinka Olatunji-Ojo; Thomas R Cundari; Patrick L Holland

doi:10.1021/ja2052914

A masked two-coordinate cobalt(I) complex that activates C-F bonds

J Am Chem Soc. 2011 Aug 17;133(32):12418-21. doi: 10.1021/ja2052914. Epub 2011 Jul 27.

Authors

Thomas R Dugan¹, Xianru Sun, Elena V Rybak-Akimova, Olayinka Olatunji-Ojo, Thomas R Cundari, Patrick L Holland

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, United States.

PMID: 21770365
DOI: 10.1021/ja2052914

Abstract

We report the isolation, characterization, and reactions of the unsaturated complex L(tBu)Co (L(tBu) = bulky β-diketiminate ligand). The unusual slipped κN,η(6)-arene binding mode in L(tBu)Co interconverts rapidly and reversibly with the traditional κ(2)N,N' ligation mode upon binding of Lewis bases, making it a "masked" two-coordinate complex. The mechanism of this isomerization is demonstrated using kinetic studies. L(tBu)Co is a stable yet reactive synthon for low-coordinate cobalt(I) complexes and is capable of cleaving the C-F bond in fluorobenzene.