Cobalt(II) Complex of a Diazoalkane Radical Anion

β-Diketiminate cobalt­(I) precursors react with diphenyldiazomethane to give a compound that is shown by computational studies to be a diazoalkane radical anion antiferromagnetically coupled to a high-spin cobalt­(II) ion. Thermolysis of this complex results in formal N–N cleavage to give a cobalt­(II) ketimide complex. Experimental evaluation of the potential steps in the mechanism suggests that free azine is a likely intermediate in this reaction.