Synthesis, characterization and single crystal X-ray structures of 2-pyridyl bis(pyrazineamino)methane and bis[2-pyridyl(pyrazineamino)methanolato]cobalt(III) perchlorate : A consequence of cobalt ion-assisted oxidative deamination of 2-pyridyl bis(pyrazineamino)methane

A new Schiff base, 2-pyridyl bis(pyrazineamino)methane (L-1) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic investigations and single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. Reaction of cobalt(II). perchlorate hexahydrate with two molar equivalents of L-1 under ambient conditions resulted concurrent oxidation of divalent Co-II metal ion with oxygenation and deamination of the aminal polydentate ligand to produce bis[2-pyridyl(pyrazineamino)methanolato]cobalt(III) perchlorate trihydrate designated as [Co(L-2)]ClO4 center dot 3H(2)O (1). The complex 1 is also characterized by spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. X-Ray crystal structure of the complex cation, [Co(L-2)(2)](+), shows that the two L-2 ligands are coordinated to the central cobalt(III) metal ion in a facial mode to afford a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. The two pyridyl and two pyrazine N atoms constitute the equatorial plane on which the cobalt(III) ion lies whereas methanolate O atoms occupy the axial positions.