Computational modeling of mixed-ligand cobalt complexes with o-quinone derivative of corannulene

Abstract

The structure and energy characteristics of isomers of electrically neutral adducts of tetracoordinate cobalt complexes with o-quinone derivative of corannulene were studied quantum chemically within the density functional theory (DFT) in the UB3LYP*/6-311++G(d,p) approximation. It was shown that the framework rigidity of the redox-active ligand favors convergence of the energy levels of the high-spin and low-spin isomers of the complexes under study as compared to the o-benzoquinone-containing analogues. At the same time, steric strain in the corannulene moiety causes the stability of the adducts to reduce. A compound characterized by high stabilization energy and the ability to switch its spin states via valence tautomeric rearrangements was found by systematic variation of structural parameters of cobalt bis(chelate).