A novel approach to the synthesis of azobenzene using dicobalt carbonyl

Abstract

Reaction of Co-2(CO)(8) with HC=CC6H4NH2 in THF at 55 degreesC for 4 hours gave an unusual complex {[Co-2(CO)(6)-(mu-HC=C)]C6H4N=}(2) 2 in reasonable yield; the crystal structure of 2 reveals that it can be regarded as two alkyne-bridged dicobalt fragments joined by a diazene-based ligand; a mechanism for the formation of 2 is proposed.