Protonation and methylation of η4-2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone(η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt

The preparation of the η4-4-2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinonecomplex [CO(C5Me5)(C10H12O2)] (I) is reported. Complex I undergoesreversible protonation to yield the 2-6-η-4-hydroxy-1-oxo-2,3,5,6-tetramethylcyclohexadienyl complex [Co(C5Me5)(C10H13O2)BF4 (II) and diprotonation to yield the η6-6-1,4-dihydroxy-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene complex [Co(C5Me5)(C10H14O2)] (BF4)2 (III). Methylation of complex I with MeI/AgPF6 gives the 26-η-4-methoxy-1-oxo-2,3,5,6-tetramethylcyclohexadienyl complex [Co(C5Me5)(C11H15O2])PF6 (IV). In trifluoroacetic acid solution complex IV is protonated to form the η6-1-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene cation [Co(C5Me5)-(C11H16O2)]2+