Synthesis, structure, and photodecarboxylation of cobalt(III) complexes with diethylenetriamine and L-ornithine [Co(Dien)(Orn)](ClO4)2 · 0.5H2O or DL-histidine [Co(Dien)(His)](ClO4)2

Mixed cobalt(III) complexes with diethylenetriamine (Dien) and a tridentate anion of L-ornithine (Orn) [Co(Dien)(His)](ClO4)2 · 0.5 H2O or DL-histidine (His) [Co(Dien)(Orn)](ClO4)2 are synthesized. According to the X-ray diffraction studies, the secondary N atom of diethylenetriamine is trans to the donor N atom of the side chain of the amino acid. Organometallic products of photodecarboxylation of the complexes are isolated by ion exchange chromatography. The electronic absorption spectra indicate that the products contain three-membered Co-C-N rings.