Dimeric structures cobalt tris complexes

With sp bond angles calculated to be around 162°, macrocycle 131 would be highly strained and was therefore expected to be quite reactive [79]. The octa-cobalt complex 132, on the other hand, should be readily isolable. Indeed, 132 was prepared easily from 133 in five steps, and was isolated as stable, deep maroon crystals (Scheme 30). All spectroscopic data supported formation of the strain-free dimeric structure. Unfortunately, all attempts to liberate 132 from the cobalt units led only to insoluble materials. Diederich et al. observed similar problems when trying to prepare the cyclocarbons [5c]. Whether the failure to prepare these two classes of macrocycles is due to the extreme reactivity of the distorted polyyne moiety or to the lack of a viable synthetic route is not certain. Thus, isolation and characterization of smaller bent hexatriyne- and octatetrayne-containing systems is an important goal that should help answer these questions. 

The orange, sublimable complex formed when hydridotetrakis(tri-fluorophosphine)rhodium decomposes on standing at room temperature is believed to have the same dimeric structure as its cobalt analog 175). 

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