Activation of Molecular Oxygen by a Cobalt(II) Tetra-NHC Complex*

Abstract

The first dicobalt(III) μ₂ -peroxo N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex is reported. It can be quantitatively generated from a cobalt(II) compound bearing a 16-membered macrocyclic tetra-NHC ligand via facile activation of dioxygen from air at ambient conditions. The reaction proceeds via an end-on superoxo intermediate as demonstrated by EPR studies and DFT. The peroxo moiety can be cleaved upon addition of acetic acid, yielding the corresponding Co^III acetate complex going along with H₂ O₂ formation. In contrast, both Co^II and Co^III complexes are also studied as catalysts to utilize air for olefin and alkane oxidation reactions; however, not resulting in product formation. The observations are rationalized by DFT-calculations, suggesting a nucleophilic nature of the dicobalt(III) μ₂ -peroxo complex. All isolated compounds are characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, elemental analysis, EPR and SC-XRD.

Keywords: N-heterocyclic carbenes; cobalt; dioxygen activation; dioxygen ligands; macrocyclic ligands.