The isolation and properties of an unexpected cyano-bridged complex [(H2O)CoII(dppm)2(μ-CN)CoIICl3] · C2H5OH

One reaction of CoCl2 · 6H2O, dppm (diphenylphosphinomethane), and TCNE (tetracyanoethylene) in C2H5OH solvent gave one unexpected cyano-bridged complex [(H2O)CoII(dppm)2(μ-CN)CoIICl3] · C2H5OH 1. Compound 1 is built from Co(II) and Co(II) centers, which are bridged by one CN group. It was characterized by IR spectra, UV–Vis spectra, and cyclic voltammogram. It is worth noting that CoII ions in 1 exhibit thermally induced quartet ↔ doublet spin transitions, and there is an antiferromagnetic interaction between the adjacent CoII and CoII ions through the cyanide bridge in 1.