Synthesis and structural characterization of a novel dinuclear complex compound formed by the aerial oxidation of cobalt(II) having an interligand C–C sigma-bond

The aerial oxidation of cobalt(II) salt, in a methanolic solution, containing a hydrazone ligand, (E)-N'-(4-oxo-4-phenylbutan-2-ylidene)benzohydrazide (condensation product of benzoyl acetone and benzhydrazide, LH2) leads to the coupling of two such ligand units through the formation of a rather long C-C bond [1.601(6) angstrom] giving rise to a dinuclear Co (III) hydrazone complex, [Co-2(L)(2)(L')(2)]center dot 0.25H(2)O (L' = C-C coupled hydrazone ligand). The structure of the complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography and IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and elemental analysis have characterized the complex.