Formation of carbon-carbon-bonded dimers in the reduction of (Co(super II)salophen) (salophen = N,N'-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneaminato)): their reactivity with electrophiles to form Co-C bonds

Formation of carbon-carbon bonds which function as electron shuttles for the metal in the complex (Co2(MeOsalophen)2Na2(THF)4), as shown by its reaction with electrophiles such as alkyl halides and carbon dioxide, was the result of the reduction of substituted (Co(salophen)) with sodium at the metal. For salophen derivatives, the reductive coupling of imino groups was noted. These results affirm that reduction of cobalt(II)-Schiff base complexes occur at the metal, not at the ligand, even if the metal reacts as if it was in a reduced form.