Oxygen-carrying cobalt compounds. I. Bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediiminecobalt(II) monochloroformate

The structure of bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediiminecobalt(II) monochloroformate, CoO2N2C16H14. CHC13 has been determined by Patterson and Fourier techniques and refined by three-dimensional least squares, using 1938 reflections, to an R index of 0086. The substance crystallizes in space group P21/n with a-13.92, b=769, c= 1746.~, and p=98-4 °. The crystal contains pairs of nearly planar bis(salicylaldehyde)ethylenediiminecobalt(II) molecules at van der Waals distances (35 .£,) apart and related by a center of symmetry. The chloroform molecules occupy passageways parallel to the b axis and are weakly hydrogen-bonded to the metal complexes. The passageways provide an explanation for the ease of oxygen uptake of this substance. Bond distances and angles in both the metal complex and the chloroform molecule are normal. 1675