Characterization of the photolysis products of sec-butylcobaloximes with imidazole and benzimidazole bases

The products obtained on the photolysis, under anaerobic conditions, of sec-butylcobaloximes with bound N-donor Imidazole and Benzimidazole bases, and sec-(C4H9)Co(DH)2L are identified and characterized. The results are compared with those obtained for other alkylcobaloximes, mainly in terms of the involvement of the photolysis primary products in further reactions with the species in solution, namely the ability to form adducts with the base L. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was chosen to monitor the photolysis process, to obtain relevant information about the electronic structure of the cobalt(II) complexes, and to determine the extent of spin density delocalized into the ligands.