No abstract

New linear heterometallic Co3Li2 and Co4Li2 arrays have been assembled with the use of disiloxanediolate and silsesquioxane ligands. Treatment of anhydrous CoCl2 with in situ‐prepared (Ph2SiOLi)2O afforded (thf)Co[Co{μ‐(Ph2SiO)2O}{(μ‐Cl)2Li(thf)2}]2 (5) as dark blue prisms in 73 % yield, while the analogous reaction of CoCl2 with in situ‐prepared Cy7Si7O9(OLi)3 (Cy = cyclohexyl) gave royal blue [Co2(μ‐Cy7Si7O12)(μ‐OSiMe3)(μ‐Cl){Li(thf)2}2]2 (6) in 68 % yield. Both of the new compounds have been structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Plasma treatment of 5 was found to activate the surface by creating –C–O, –C=O, and –COO functionalities. An initial study revealed promising formaldehyde adsorption properties for the plasma‐treated material 5a.

A unique trivalent manganese siloxide complex, blue-violet MnLiCl[(PhSiO)O](THF)·2THF (3) has been prepared by a straightforward two-step synthetic protocol. Lithiation of (PhSiOH)O (1) followed by reaction with MnCl(THF) gave the structurally remarkable Mn(ii) precursor MnLiCl[(PhSiO)O](THF)·2THF (2). Surprisingly, the final oxidation step could be achieved using KMnO in THF to provide the Mn(iii) species 3 in high yield (91%). Both title compounds were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.