Cobalt tetracarbonyl hydride
Names
Other names
cobalt hydrocarbonyl
tetracarbonylhydridocobalt
Tetracarbonylhydrocobalt
Hydrocobalt tetracarbonyl
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ECHA InfoCard 100.290.757 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • O=C=[CoH](=C=O)(=C=O)=C=O
Properties
C4HCoO4
Molar mass 171.98 g/mol
Appearance Light yellow liquid
Odor offensive[1]
Melting point −33 °C (−27 °F; 240 K)
Boiling point 47 °C (117 °F; 320 K)
0.05% (20°C)[1]
Solubility soluble in hexane, toluene, ethanol
Vapor pressure >1 atm (20°C)[1]
Acidity (pKa) 1 (in water)[2]
8.3 (in acetonitrile)[3]
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 flammable, decomposes in air[1]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 none[1]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 0.1 mg/m3[1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 N.D.[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Cobalt tetracarbonyl hydride is an organometallic compound with the formula HCo(CO)4. It is a volatile, yellow liquid that forms a colorless vapor and has an intolerable odor.[4] The compound readily decomposes upon melt and in absentia of high CO partial pressures forms Co2(CO)8. Despite operational challenges associated with its handling, the compound has received considerable attention for its ability to function as a catalyst in hydroformylation. In this respect, HCo(CO)4 and related derivatives have received significant academic interest for their ability to mediate a variety of carbonylation (introduction of CO into inorganic compounds) reactions.

Structure and properties

HCo(CO)4 adopts trigonal bipyramidal structure, with the hydride ligand occupying one of the axial positions, giving an overall symmetry of C3v. The three equatorial CO ligands are slightly bent out of the equatorial plane.[5] The Co–CO and Co–H bond distances were determined by gas-phase electron diffraction to be 1.764 and 1.556 Å, respectively.[6] Assuming the presence of a formal hydride ion, the oxidation state of cobalt in this compound is +1.

But unlike some other transition-metal hydrides complexes, HCo(CO)4 is highly acidic, with a pKa of 8.5.[7] It readily undergoes substitution by tertiary phosphines and other Lewis-bases. For example, triphenylphosphine gives HCo(CO)3PPh3 and HCo(CO)2(PPh3)2. These derivatives are more stable than HCo(CO)4 and are used industrially to improve catalyst selectivity in hydroformylation.[8] These derivatives are generally less acidic than HCo(CO)4.[7]

Preparation

Tetracarbonylhydrocobalt was first described by Hieber in the early 1930s.[9] It was the second transition metal hydride to be discovered, after H2Fe(CO)4. It is prepared by reducing Co2(CO)8 with sodium amalgam or a similar reducing agent followed by acidification.[5]

Co2(CO)8 + 2 Na → 2 NaCo(CO)4
NaCo(CO)4 + H+ → HCo(CO)4 + Na+

Since HCo(CO)4 decomposes so readily, it is usually generated in situ by hydrogenation of Co2(CO)8.[8][10]

Co2(CO)8 + H2 ⇌ 2 HCo(CO)4

The thermodynamic parameters for the equilibrium reaction were determined by infrared spectroscopy to be ΔH = 4.054 kcal mol−1, ΔS = −3.067 cal mol−1 K−1.[8]

Applications

Tetracarbonylhydridocobalt was the first transition metal hydride to be used in industry.[11] In 1953 evidence was disclosed that it is the active catalyst for the conversion of alkenes, CO, and H2 to aldehydes, a process known as hydroformylation (oxo reaction).[12] Although the use of cobalt-based hydroformylation has since been largely superseded by rhodium-based catalysts, the world output of C3–C18 aldehydes produced by tetracarbonylhydrocobalt catalysis is about 100,000 tons per year, roughly 2% of the total.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0148". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ^ Holleman, Arnold F.; Wiberg, Egon; Wiberg, Nils (1995). Lehrbuch der anorganischen Chemie (in German). Berlin: de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-012641-9. OCLC 237142268.
  3. ^ Moore, Eric J.; Sullivan, Jeffrey M.; Norton, Jack R. (1986). "Kinetic and thermodynamic acidity of hydrido transition-metal complexes. 3. Thermodynamic acidity of common mononuclear carbonyl hydrides". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 108 (9). American Chemical Society (ACS): 2257–2263. doi:10.1021/ja00269a022. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 22175569.
  4. ^ Kerr, W. J. (2001). "Sodium Tetracarbonylcobaltate". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rs105. ISBN 0471936235.
  5. ^ a b Donaldson, J. D.; Beyersmann, D. (2005). "Cobalt and Cobalt Compounds". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a07_281.pub2. ISBN 3527306730.
  6. ^ McNeill, E. A.; Scholer, F. R. (1977). "Molecular structure of the gaseous metal carbonyl hydrides of manganese, iron, and cobalt". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 99 (19): 6243. doi:10.1021/ja00461a011.
  7. ^ a b Moore, E. J.; Sullivan, J. M.; Norton, J. R. (1986). "Kinetic and thermodynamic acidity of hydrido transition-metal complexes. 3. Thermodynamic acidity of common mononuclear carbonyl hydrides". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 108 (9): 2257–2263. doi:10.1021/ja00269a022. PMID 22175569.
  8. ^ a b c Pfeffer, M.; Grellier, M. (2007). "Cobalt Organometallics". Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry III. Elsevier. pp. 1–119. doi:10.1016/B0-08-045047-4/00096-0. ISBN 9780080450476.
  9. ^ Hieber, W.; Mühlbauer, F.; Ehmann, E. A. (1932). "Derivate des Kobalt- und Nickelcarbonyls (XVI. Mitteil. über Metallcarbonyle)". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft (A and B Series). 65 (7): 1090. doi:10.1002/cber.19320650709.
  10. ^ Eisenberg, David C.; Lawrie, Christophe J. C.; Moody, Anne E.; Norton, Jack R. (1991). "Relative Rates of Hydrogen Atom (H.) Transfer from Transition-Metal Hydrides to Trityl Radicals". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 113 (13): 4888–4895. doi:10.1021/ja00013a026.
  11. ^ a b Rittmeyer, P.; Wietelmann, U. (2000). "Hydrides". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a13_199. ISBN 3527306730.
  12. ^ Wender, I.; Sternberg, H. W.; Orchin, M. (1953). "Evidence for Cobalt Hydrocarbonyl as the Hydroformylation Catalyst". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75 (12): 3041–3042. doi:10.1021/ja01108a528.
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