Maleate–fumarate conversion and other novel aspects of the reaction of a Co(II) maleate with pyridine and bipyridine

Abstract

Reaction of a molecular Co(II) maleate, [Co(Hmal)(2)(H2O)(4)], with pyridine yields a Co(II) fumarate, [Co(fum)(H2O)(4)], with a chain structure and a chiral pyridylsuccinic acid zwitter ion, -OOC-CH(N+C5H5)-CH2-COOH, in almost quantitative yields, while the reaction of 4,4'-bipyridine (bipy) with the Co(II) maleate, on the other hand, almost quantitatively generates a polylmeric Co(II) maleate, [Co(mal)(bipy)](n) center dot(n/2) H2O along with the adduct of fumaric acid with bipyridine.