Azide/thiocyanate incorporated cobalt(III)-Schiff base complexes: characterizations and catalytic activity in aerobic epoxidation of olefins

Reaction of cobalt(II) perchlorate hexahydrate with a potentially tetradentate Schiff base ligand, HL (2-methoxy-6-[(2-diethylaminoethylimino)methyl]phenol) in presence of sodium azide and sodium thiocyanate yields two complexes [Co(L)(HL)(N3)]?ClO4(1) and [Co(L)(HL)(NCS)]?ClO4(2); both being characterized by different physicochemical methods. Crystal structure of 1 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction while that of 2 was reported earlier. In 1, the central cobalt(III) adopts slightly distorted octahedral geometry with same donor set to that of 2. Catalytic efficacy of the complexes towards epoxidation of different alkenes under aerobic condition were investigated in homogeneous medium which reveals that 1 is better catalyst than 2 with respect to alkene oxidation, reflected from the turn over frequencies (TOF) measured at an optimum temperature of 60 ?C in acetonitrile.