Well-Defined Cobalt(I) Dihydrogen Catalyst: Experimental Evidence for a Co(I)/Co(III) Redox Process in Olefin Hydrogenation

The synthesis of a cobalt dihydrogen Co^I-(H₂) complex prepared from a Co^I-(N₂) precursor supported by a monoanionic pincer bis­(carbene) ligand, ^MesCCC (^MesCCC = bis­(mesityl-benzimidazol-2-ylidene)­phenyl), is described. This species is capable of H₂/D₂ scrambling and hydrogenating alkenes at room temperature. Stoichiometric addition of HCl to the Co^I-(N₂) cleanly affords the Co^III hydridochloride complex, which, upon the addition of Cp₂ZrHCl, evolves hydrogen gas and regenerates the Co^I-(N₂) complex. Furthermore, the catalytic olefin hydrogenation activity of the Co^I species was studied by using multinuclear and parahydrogen (p-H₂) induced polarization (PHIP) transfer NMR studies to elucidate catalytically relevant intermediates, as well as to establish the role of the Co^I-(H₂) in the Co^I/Co^III redox cycle.