Synthesis and Characterisation of [(en)2Co]3+ Complexes Coordinated by Substituted Thiourea Ligands

Substituted thiourea ligands bind in a bidentate manner forming a four-membered ring through the sulfur atom and a deprotonated thiourea nitrogen atom when reacted with [(en)2Co(OSO2CF3)2]+ in tetramethylene sulfone. Reaction of unsymmetrical ligands results in the formation of coordination isomers, some of which can be separated by column chromatography using Sephadex SPC-25. Coordination isomers are easily distinguishable based on visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy . Twelve para-substituted and one meta-substituted ligands were studied: N,N′-dibenzylthiourea (1a); N-(R)phenyl-N′-benzylthiourea {R = H (2a), NO2 (2b), CH3 (2c)}; N-(R)phenyl-N′-(R′)phenylthiourea {R, R′: H, H (3a), H, CH3 (3b), OCH3, NO2 (3c), CH3, NO2 (3d)}; N-methyl-N′-(R)phenylthiourea {R = H (4a), CH3 (4b), OCH3 (4c), NO2 (4d), 3-CH3 (4e)}. The solid state structure (X-ray) of one isomer of Co-4a as its perchlorate salt confirms the coordination mode suggested by 1H NMR spectroscopy and shows that the Co–N bond trans to the coordinated thiourea sulfur induces a structural trans effect of 0.019 Å.