Congrats to Conner Wilson and DK Kim, whose paper on a salen-supported cobalt(IV) isopropyl complex has now appeared in J. Am. Chem. Soc. They generated this species at low temperature, and looked at its reactivity and spectroscopy (the latter in collaboration with Brian Hoffman’s group). These were interpreted through essential DFT calculations by Reagan Hooper (assisted by Rinaldo Poli). We learned that the complex has significant contribution from a resonance form that is cobalt(II)-(isopropyl cation), which explains its unusual Co-C bond energy, redox potential, reactivity, and catalytic relevance. Great job, all!
