Spontaneous Isomerization [trans-B20H18]2– → [iso-B20H18]2– during Cobalt(II) Complexation with Phenanthroline

Abstract

In this work, the cobalt(II) complexation with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) in the presence of the [trans-B20H18]2– anion has been studied. At a Co : Phen = 1 : 2 ratio in acetonitrile, a binuclear cobalt(II) complex with bridging chlorine atoms and the boron cluster anion as a counterion [(Phen)2Co(µ-Cl)2Co(Phen)2][trans-B20H18] has been isolated. However, during slow crystallization (within a month), spontaneous isomerization of [trans-B20H18]2– into [iso-B20H18]2– is observed. It has been established by X-ray diffraction analysis that in the crystal of the final compound [(Phen)2Co(µ-Cl)2Co(Phen)2][trans-B20H18]1/3[iso-B20H18]2/3, co-crystallization of both isomeric forms of the octadecahydroeicosaborate anion is observed for the first time. The presence of the iso form of the boron cluster anion is also confirmed by IR spectroscopy data: the spectrum of the product shows a band of stretching vibrations of the BHB bridge groups at 1773 cm–1, which is absent in the trans-form of the boron cluster.

Mononuclear Transition Metal Cymantrenecarboxylates as Precursors for Spinel-Type Manganites

Novel mononuclear cymantrenecarboxylate complexes of transition metals, [Co(H₂O)₆](CymCO₂)₂·4H₂O (Cym = (η⁵-C₅H₄)Mn(CO)₃) (1), [Ni(H₂O)₆](CymCO₂)₂·4H₂O (2), [Zn(H₂O)₆](CymCO₂)₂·4H₂O (3), [Co(CymCO₂)₂(imz)₂] (imz = imidazole, 4), [Co(CymCO₂)₂(bpy)₂]·2PhMe (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridyl, 5), [Ni(CymCO₂)(bpy)₂(H₂O)][CymCO₂]·0.5MePh·2H₂O (6), [Cu(CymCO₂)₂(imz)₂] (7), and [Cu(CymCO₂)₂(bpy)(H₂O)] (8), were obtained and characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Complexes 1–3 are isostructural. Magnetism of the Co complexes 1, 4, and 5 was studied; it was shown that they exhibit the properties of field-induced single-molecule magnets with magnetization reversal barriers (ΔE/k_B) of 44, 13, and 10 K, respectively. Thermal decomposition of complexes 1–8 was studied by means of DSC and TGA methods. The final products of thermolysis of 1–6 in air, according to powder XRD data, are the pure spinel phases MMn₂O₄; for the cases of copper complexes, the mixtures of CuMn₂O₄ and CuO were found in the products.