Cobalt reaction with alkali metals

Reactions of the (Tj5-C5Hs)cobaIt-olefin complexes (26) prepared according to Eqs. (25) and (26) with alkali metals (Li, Na, K) in the presence of olefins lead to the elimination of the second C5H5 ligand from the cobalt (Scheme 5). Complexes 27a and 27b, or the mixed complex 27c are obtained in high yields [Eq. (28)]. The syntheses of the pure complexes 27a and 27b do not, of course, require the isolation of intermediates 26a and 26b. As mentioned previously, synthesis is readily achieved from cobaltocene (24) by reaction with either stoichiometric amounts or excess alkali metal in the presence of COD or ethylene [Eq. (24)]. The alkali metal cyclopentadienides which are formed are easily separated from the cobalt complexes and can be used for the synthesis of cobaltocene (51) [Scheme 5 Eq. (29)]. 

Within this context, the present article concentrates on transition metal cluster complexes of cobalt, iron and manganese with mixed chalcogen/carbonyl ligand spheres obtained by reaction of simple binary metal carbonyls with alkali-metal sulfides, alkali-metal thiolates or transition-metal thiolate complexes and their selenium or tellurium counterparts. 

Many 7i-cyclopentadienyl complexes may be prepared from the reaction of alkali metal cyclopentadienides with ammonia-soluble transition metal salts such as nitrates and thiocyanates in liquid ammonia (2-30). The amine complexes, [M(NH3) ] (C5H5)2, lose ammonia when heated in vacuo, and the uncharged dicyclopentadienyl complexes of iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, and manganese are obtained. 

Cobalt has an odd number of electrons, and does not form a simple carbonyl in oxidation state 0. However, carbonyls of formulae Co2(CO)g, Co4(CO)i2 and CoJCO),6 are known reduction of these by an alkali metal dissolved in liquid ammonia (p. 126) gives the ion [Co(CO)4] ". Both Co2(CO)g and [Co(CO)4]" are important as catalysts for organic syntheses. In the so-called oxo reaction, where an alkene reacts with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, under pressure, to give an aldehyde, dicobalt octacarbonyl is used as catalyst ... 

The observation of radical anions has been confirmed by ESR measurements as illustrated by [Ir4(CO)12], (g = 2.002) 208). Similarly, a toluene solution of Co4(CO)i2 reacts with cobaltocene precipitating a brown compound which is extremely reactive and contains a cobaltocenium cation for each four cobalt atoms of the anion55. With excess cobaltocene (or alkali metals) in THF the reaction proceeds further as shown in Eq. (20),... 

This type of alkoxylation chemistry cannot be performed with conventional alkali metal hydroxide catalysts because the hydroxide will saponify the triglyceride ester groups under typical alkoxylation reaction conditions. Similar competitive hydrolysis occurs with alternative catalysts such as triflic acid or other Brpnsted acid/base catalysis. Efficient alkoxylation in the absence of significant side reactions requires a coordination catalyst such as the DMC catalyst zinc hexacyano-cobaltate. DMC catalysts have been under development for years [147-150], but have recently begun to gain more commercial implementation. The use of the DMC catalyst in combination with castor oil as an initiator has led to at least two lines of commercial products for the flexible foam market. Lupranol Balance 50 (BASF) and Multranol R-3524 and R-3525 (Bayer) are used for flexible slabstock foams and are produced by the direct alkoxylation of castor oil. 

CO2 molecule, or Mg + and CO2 play the role of oxide acceptor to form water, carbonate, and MgC03, respectively [38]. The reactions of the iron carboxylate with these Lewis acids are thought to be fast and not rate determining. For the cobalt and nickel macrocyclic catalysts, CO2 is the ultimate oxide acceptor with formation of bicarbonate salts in addition to CO, but it is not clear what the precise pathway is for decomposition of the carboxylate to CO [33]. The influence of alkali metal ions on CO2 binding for these complexes was discussed earlier [15]. It appears the interactions between bound CO2 and these ions are fast and reversible, and one would presume that reactions between protons and bound CO2 are rapid as well. 

The tetrafluorocobaltates of the alkali metals show12 considerable differences in their reactions with benzene. Lithium tetrafluorocobaltate(III) at 100-130 C gives 3,3,6,6-tetra-fluorocyclohexa-1,4-diene (13) of over 90% purity. This compound has long been postulated1,549 as a major intermediate in the fluorination with cobalt(III) fluoride. The sodium, potassium, and rubidium salts give similar product mixtures (ca. 8 compounds), most being polyfluoroenes (e.g. 14, 8% 15, 12% 16, 35%). 

The complications which result from the hydrolysis of alkali metal cyanides in aqueous media may be avoided by the use of non-aqueous solvents. The one most often employed is liquid ammonia, in which derivatives of some of the lanthanides and of titanium(III) may be obtained from the metal halides and cyanide.13 By addition of potassium as reductant, complexes of cobalt(O), nickel(O), titanium(II) and titanium(III) may be prepared and a complex of zirconium(0) has been obtained in a remarkable disproportion of zirconium(III) into zirconium(IV) and zirconium(0).14 Other solvents which have been shown to be suitable for halide-cyanide exchange reactions include ethanol, methanol, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide. With their aid, species of different stoichiometry from those isolated from aqueous media can sometimes be made [Hg(CN)3], for example, is obtained as its cesium salt form CsF, KCN and Hg(CN)2 in ethanol.15... 

The characteristic colours and solubilities of many metallic sulphides have already been discussed in connection with the reactions of the cations in Chapter III. The sulphides of iron, manganese, zinc, and the alkali metals are decomposed by dilute hydrochloric acid with the evolution of hydrogen sulphide those of lead, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, antimony, and tin(IV) require concentrated hydrochloric acid for decomposition others, such as mercury(II) sulphide, are insoluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid, but dissolve in aqua regia with the separation of sulphur. The presence of sulphide in insoluble sulphides may be detected by reduction with nascent hydrogen (derived from zinc or tin and hydrochloric acid) to the metal and hydrogen sulphide, the latter being identified with lead acetate paper (see reaction 1 below). An alternative method is to fuse the sulphide with anhydrous sodium carbonate, extract the mass with water, and to treat the filtered solution with freshly prepared sodium nitroprusside solution, when a purple colour will be obtained the sodium carbonate solution may also be treated with lead nitrate solution when black lead sulphide is precipitated. 

Other experimental reproductive effects. A skin and severe eye irritant. A narcotic. Human mutation data reported. A common air contaminant. Highly flammable liquid. NCxmres of 30-60% of the vapor in air ignite above 100°. It can react violently with acid anhydrides, alcohols, ketones, phenols, NH3, HCN, H2S, halogens, P, isocyanates, strong alkalies, and amines. Reactions with cobalt chloride, mercury(II) chlorate, or mercury(II) perchlorate form violendy in the presence of traces of metals or acids. Reaction with oxygen may lead to detonation. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes. 

Since 1910 the method of Bart has been modified by a number of investigators, Bart, himself, being the first to improve the reaction. He found that coupling of aryldiazonium compounds with alkali arsenites is catalyzed by copper salts and by silver or copper powder. In a later patent the use of metallic catalysts, copper, nickel, or cobalt, as well as their salts is said to facilitate the removal of diazo nitrogen at low temperatures and to obviate the formation of by-products. Though many have since observed that the coupling reaction is speeded by the use of the above catalysts, no systematic study has been made to determine the effect of such catalysts on the final yield. 

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