Iso-valence Co(II) and mixed-valence Co(II/III) tetranuclear complexes: Synthesis, structure, magnetic properties and DFT study

Abstract The reaction of Co(ClO4)2·6H2O with symmetrical N4O3 coordinating heptadentate ligand (H3L) in presence of triethylamine yielded cobalt(II) tetranuclear complexes [Co4(L)2](ClO4)2, 1. When the same reaction is carried out with sodium azide instead of triethylamine afforded tetranuclear mixed-valence Co(II/III) species, [Co4(L)2(μ1,3–N3)2](ClO4)2, 2. Here L3− is the deprotonated form of 2,6-bis[{{(1-hydroxy-2-methylpropan-2-yl)(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)}amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol. Complex 1 crystallizes in the cubic system, space group Fd-3c, with unit-cell parameters a = b = c = 43.320(5) A, Z = 48, whereas complex 2 crystallizes in the space group I41/a in the tetragonal crystal syst…