Cobalt(II) Complex of a Diazoalkane Radical Anion.

ß-Diketiminate cobalt(I) precursors react with diphenyldiazomethane to give a compound that is shown by computational studies to be a diazoalkane radical anion antiferromagnetically coupled to a high-spin cobalt(II) ion. Thermolysis of this complex results in formal N-N cleavage to give a cobalt(II) ketimide complex. Experimental evaluation of the potential steps in the mechanism suggests that free azine is a likely intermediate in this reaction.