Mixed metal cyanide complexes derived from the CpCo(CN)(3)over-bar anion

Reaction of the salt KCpCo(CN)(3) (1) with zinc iodide leads to the formation of a highly insoluble Co(III)/Zn(II) polymeric chain. However, pyridine was found to disrupt the aggregate that is formed to yield a crystalline trimetallic complex consisting of two CpCo(CN)(3) anions bridging a Zn(py)(4) dication through the cyanide ligands, [CpCo(CN)(2)(mu-CN)](2)Zn(py)(4) (2). Along these same lines, reaction of CpCo(CN)(2)PPh3 (3) with AlCl3 or CoCl2 leads to the formation of a highly crystalline Co(II)/Co(III) diamond. [CpCo(PPh3)(mu-CN)(2)CoCl2](2) (4). Molecular Structures of 1, 2, 3 and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.