Synthetic stratagem and structures of two heteroleptic cobalt(III) complexes acting as biomimetic catalysts: Role of co-ligands in catalytic activities

Two heteroleptic cobalt(III) complexes, [CoL1(acac)(N3)] (1) and [CoL1(acac)(NCS)] (2) {where HL1 = 1-((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol and Hacac = acetylacetone} have been synthesized and structurally characterized by several analytical techniques including single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Extended supra-molecular assemblies were generated in them through weak noncovalent interactions. Synthesized complexes have also been found to mimic the role of quite a lot of metalloenzymes like catechol oxidase, phenoxazinone synthase and phosphatase efficiently by catalytic areal oxidation of respective substrates. Detailed kinetic studies of catalytic reactions are performed spectrophotometrically, which confirm that catalytic reactions follow Michaelis-Menten enzymatic reaction kinetics. Role of co-ligands in catalytic activity has also been assessed.