Cubanes, cobalt systems

The electrochemical results described above indicate that unlike in the cases of other cobalt-catalyzed oxidation processes where the Co /Co redox couple is invariably involved [19b,38], in the present case where cubane clusters of the general formula Co4(p3-0)4( J,-02-CR)4(L)4 are to be employed as catalysts for the air/02 or TBHP oxidation of alkylaromatics, alcohols, etc., we have a catalytic system wherein the oxidation states of cobalt cycle between +3 and +4. The kinetic inertness of Co(lll) coupled with the inadequately explored reactivity of Co(lV) thus make the catalysts based on C04O4 cubanes quite interesting [36]. We shall now discuss the resulting materials prepared by supporting the cubane-like cobalt(lll)-oxo clusters discussed above in this section by following the chemical route in which the carboxylate anion derived from CMS-CH2CH2CO2H binds the in situ or preformed cobalt(III)-oxo tetramers at elevated temperatures. 

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