Transition metal borohydride complexes are of interest as precursors for hydride complexes, as reduction agents, as hydrogen storage materials and as structural models for alkane complexes. Trofimenko's so-called scorpionate ligands, denoted TpR,Me for hydrotris(3-R,5-Me-pyrazol-1-yl)borate have been used to stabilize borohydride complexes of iron(II) and nickel(II), as well as post-transition metal complexes of zinc(II) and cadmium(II). However, a curious lack of metal complexes with odd electron counts is evident. Inspired by previous work, we have synthesized and characterized the cobalt(II) borohydride complexes [(TpR,Me)Co(BH4)], where R = Me, Ph. The different steric environment around the metal induces different borohydride coordination modes in the respective complexes, as confirmed by vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Hydride complexes are formed by decomposition in the presence of Lewis bases. The reduction chemistry of halocarbons and CO2 will be discussed.

Scorpionate-supported cobalt(II) borohydride complexes

2019 Spring National Meeting

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