A valence tautomeric cobalt–dioxolene complex with an anchoring group for prospective chemical grafting to metal oxides

Abstract

Here, we synthesized a valence tautomeric cobalt–dioxolene complex featuring a protected anchoring group. At room temperature, the complex reveals a nearly pure low-spin-Co(III)-catecholate state in the solid state, but a nearly pure high-spin-Co(II)-semiquinonate state in toluene solution. Thermal switchability of the complex in solution and in the solid state is investigated.