Towards Homoleptic Naphthalenemetalates of the Later Transition Metals: Isolation and Characterization of Naphthalenecobaltates(1−)

Taming of the wild anions: Highly labile naphthalene complexes of formally negative-valent later transition metals have been obtained in the form of [Co(η4-C10H8)(η4-cod)]− (see picture; cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) and [Co(η4-C10H8)2]−. The latter is the first structurally authenticated homoleptic bis(naphthalene)metal anion for any d-block element and promises to be a particularly reactive synthon for the “naked” atomic cobalt anion.