- Source: Carbonatobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) chloride
Carbonatobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) chloride is a salt with the formula [CoCO3(en)2]Cl (en = ethylenediamine). It is a red diamagnetic solid that is soluble in water. It is the monochloride salt of a cationic carbonate complex [CoCO3(en)2]+. The chloride ion in this salt readily undergoes ion exchange. The compound is synthesized by the oxidation of a mixture of cobalt(II) chloride, lithium hydroxide, and ethylenediamine in the presence of carbon dioxide:
CoCl2 + 2 en + CO2 + 0.5 H2O2 + LiOH → [CoCO3(en)2]Cl + H2O + LiCl
The cationic complex is octahedral with C2 symmetry.
The carbonato ligand is readily replaced upon acid hydrolysis. Derivatives include the following complexes: cis- and trans-[CoCl2(en)2]+, cis-[Co(OH)(H2O)3(en)2]2+, cis-[Co(OH2)2(en)2]+, and cis-[Co(NO2)2(en)2]+. Reaction with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (HOTf) gives [Co(OTf)2(en)2]OTf.
