Sulfur Dioxide Insertion into the Co−C Bond in Organocobaloximes:  Crystal Structure and Co−C Bond Reactivity^† Study

The insertion of sulfur dioxide into the Co−C bond in ArCH₂Co(dioxime)₂Py forms a mixture of ArCH₂SO₂Co(dioxime)₂Py, ClCo(dioxime)₂Py, and a neutral trinuclear complex, [(dpgH)₂PyCo^III-μ-SO₃]₂Co^II(MeOH)₄. The inserted products 4-CN-C₆H₄CH₂SO₂Co(dpgH)₂Py and C₆H₅CH₂SO₂Co(gH)₂Py and the trinuclear complex have been structurally characterized by X-ray for the first time. The insertion of sulfur dioxide into the Co−C bond affects the orientation of the benzyl group.