First bistable monocobalt complex with six free nitrogen donors: 3,5-Di-tert-butylbenzoquinonatocobalt complex containing triethanolaminetriisonicotinate

A novel cobalt-benzoquinone complex containing triethanolaminetriisonicotinate as a coligand, [Co(3,5-dbq)2(tati)2] (3,5-dbq = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone; tati = triethanolaminetriisonicotinate) is consisted of a valence tautomeric mixture of [CoII] and [CoIII]. The tati coligand acts as a monodentate, resulting in the formation of discrete trans-[Co(3,5-dbq)2(tati)2] with six free nitrogen donors.