A Synthetic Approach to Trinuclear Cluster with [Co3(μ3-O)(μ-OH)] Core: A Comparative Study on Cluster having [Co3(μ3-O)(μ-OH)] and [Co4(μ3-O)4] Core

A synthetic approach to synthesize the cationic trinuclear cluster with [Co-3(mu(3)-O)(mu-OH)] core has been reported. A comparative study with the closely relevant polynuclear cluster containing [Co-4(mu(3)-O)(4)] active core has also been carried out along with a plausible pathway for these two clusters. The minor spectroscopic and electrochemical changes observed for the cores are quite significant to distinguish them. The rigidity of the core can be well characterized by the solvent interaction. The involvement of the hydroxo group in the electrochemical process may help these clusters to be used for catalytic processes, although these [Co-3(mu(3)-O)(mu-OH)] cationic clusters are thermally less stable than [Co-4(mu(3)-O)(4)] cuboidal clusters.