NMR study of the coordinating behavior of 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2?-yl)pyridine

Abstract

The coordination sites of 2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2′-yl)pyridine (1) toward protons and the diamagnetic metal ions Li+, Na+, and Co3+ were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Variable temperature 1H and 13C NMR experiments were performed on 1 in order to evaluate the tautomeric equilibrium and hydrogen bonding. Imidazole dicoordinated aromatic nitrogen atoms were protonated by trichloroacetic acid and the three N-dicoordinated atoms by fuming H2SO4. Reactions of the ligand 1 and benzimidazole 2 with metallic sodium or LiH afforded anionic species; the alkali metal ions appeared solvated by THF, but not by the ligands 1 or 2. In contrast, reaction of 1 with Co(III) produces the stable cation [Co(1-H)2]+ with cobalt ion coordinated by two molecules of the monodeprotonated ligand. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:392–398, 2000