Alkyl cobalt (III) dioximates and process for forming the same

A process for forming an alkyl cobalt (III) dioximate which comprises

• (1) forming a mixture of a cobalt (II) salt, a dioxime of the formula R1—C(═NOH)—C(═NOH)—R2, an olefinic component, and a Lewis base and
• (2) treating said mixture with molecular hydrogen under a pressure of 0.7-70 kg/cm2;
• wherein the alkyl cobalt (III) dioximate has the following structural formula:
• 7
• wherein R1, and R2 are individually selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl having at least 2 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, COOR5, CONR6R7, SR7, SO2R7, SO2NR5R6, SOR5, SO3R5, halogen, CCl3, CF3, COR5, CHO, CR6R7OR5, CH(OR5)(OR6), CR5(OR6)(OR7), where R5, R6, and R7 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl substituted alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl and A is a substituted alkyl derived from an olefinic component and B is a component of a Lewis base and where the substituents of the substituted alkyl are individually selected from the group consisting of ester, ether, amide, halogen, ketone, hydroxy, aryl, SO2-alkyl, sulfamido, and amino groups and the substituents for the substituted aryl are individually selected from the group consisting of ester, ether, amide, halogen, ketone, hydroxy, alkyl, SO2-alkyl, sulfamido, and amino groups.