An unusual pendant-arm macrocycle formed by condensation of a cobalt(III) tripodal complex with methanal

The reaction of [Co(ten)]3+ {ten = 4,4′,4″-ethylidynetris(3-thiabutan-1-amine)} with methanal and base in acetonitrile or water led to the synthesis of an unusual pendant-arm macrocyclic complex, 8-(4′-ammonio-2′-thiabutyl)-8-methyl-1-oxa-6,10-dithia-3,13-diazacyclo-tetradecane(chloro)cobalt(III) triperchlorate trihydrate. The structure of the complex has been established by X-ray crystallographic analysis and such molecules can readily be tied to polymers and proteins. The synthesis, chemical reactions, spectroscopy and electrochemical properties of the macrocyclic complex are described.