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The synthesis, properties and crystal structure of the cage complex (1-hydroxy-8-methyl-3,6,10,13,15,18-hexaazabicyclo[6.6.5] nonadecane )cobalt(III) chloride hydrate ([Co( Me,OH-absar )]Cl3.H2O) are reported. The mechanism of the formation of this contracted cavity cage from a nitro-capped hexaazabicycloicosane type cage has been investigated. Treatment of (1- methyl-8-nitro-3,6,10,13,16,19-hexaazabicyclo[6.6.6] icosane )cobalt(III) chloride ([Co(Me,NO2- sar )]3+) with excess base in aqueous solution leads initially to rapid (t½. < 1 ms) and reversible deprotonation of one coordinated secondary amine. This species undergoes a retro-Mannich type reaction and imine hydrolysis (t½ ≈ 90 s). Quenching the reaction with acid gives rise to a pair of isomeric intermediate species which have been isolated and characterized. They have a pendant arm macrocyclic structure, resulting from the loss of a methylene unit from one of the arms of the cap. Heating either isomer in aqueous solution gives the new cage compound with the contracted cap. It is postulated that this occurs through a Nef reaction, resulting in the formation of a ketone which then condenses with the coordinated primary amine. A comparison with the corresponding bicycloicosane analogue indicates a reduced chromophoric cavity size for the contracted cage. The reduction potential of the cobalt(III)/cobalt(II) couple is 170 mV more negative for the smaller cage, and, in the electronic spectrum of the cobalt(III) complex, the d-d transitions are both shifted to higher energy, corresponding to a stronger ligand field.

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