Synthesis and properties of surfactant complexes of cobalt(III) and chromium(III)

Several surfactant complexes of CrIII and CoIII of the general formula [M(L-L)(en)2]n+(L-L = long-chain, bidentate ligand; en = ethylenediamine) have been synthesized from cis-[M(CF3SO3)2(en)2]+. Whereas some of the complexes hydrolysed rapidly on contact with water, others were sufficiently long-lived to show evidence of lyotropic liquid-crystal formation. The formulation of one CoIII complex with an alkoxysalicylate ligand was established by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.