Complexes of Cobalt(II) Iodide with Pyridine and Redox Active 1,2-Bis(arylimino)acenaphthene: Synthesis, Structure, Electrochemical, and Single Ion Magnet Properties

Complexes [(dpp-BIAN)0CoIII2]·MeCN (I) and [(Py)2CoI2] (II) were synthesized by the reaction between cobalt(II) iodide and 1,2-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)acenaphthene (dpp-BIAN) or pyridine (Py), respectively. The molecular structures of the complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction. The Co(II) ions in both compounds are in a distorted tetrahedral environment (CoN2I2). The electrochemical behavior of complex I was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Magnetochemical measurements revealed that when an external magnetic field is applied, both compounds exhibit the properties of field-induced single ion magnets.