Coordination Compounds of Cobalt(II) Nitrate and Perchlorate with Acetamide and Carbamide: Precursors for the Synthesis of Catalytically Active Tricobalt Tetraoxide

The reactions of cobalt(II) nitrate or perchloride with acetamide (AA) or carbamide (Ur) in an aqueous medium produce coordination compounds [Co(Ur)4](NO3)2 (I), [Co(Ur)6](NO3)2 (II), [Co(AA)4(H2O)2](NO3)2 (III), [Co(AA)4(H2O)2](NO3)2 ∙ 2AA (IV), [Co(Ur)6](ClO4)2, (V), [Co(AA)4(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (VI), and [Co(AA)6](ClO4)2 (VII). The compositions of the isolated complexes are determined by physicochemical methods, and the crystal and molecular structures of compounds II, V, VI, and VII are solved. Specific features of the thermal behavior of all synthesized compounds in a wide temperature range are studied in detail. These compounds are shown to be used as precursors in the preparation of nanosized Co3O4 using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The catalytic activity of thus synthesized Co3O4 in the model epoxidation of allyl alcohol is studied.