A linear S-bridged trinuclear cobalt(III) complex with 2-aminobenzenethiol: synthesis, crystal structure, and spectroscopic characterization

Treatment of cobalt(II) perchlorate hexahydrate with 2 molar equiv. of 2-aminobenzenethiol (Habt) in acetonitrile afforded a tricationic tricobalt complex, [Co{Co(abt)3}2](ClO4)3·2CH3CN, by aerial oxidation. The molecular structure of the meso (ΔΛ) form of the complex was determined by X-ray crystallography. In the complex cation, the central Co is coordinated by six thiolate groups from two terminal fac(S)-[Co(abt)3] units in an octahedral geometry, forming a linear S-bridged tricobalt structure.