Methyl transfer reactivity of five-coordinate CH3CoIIIPc

(CH3COPC)-P-III (PC = dianion of phthalocyanine) has been characterized by equilibrium studies of its trans axial ligation and cyclic voltammetry as a relatively "electron poor" model of methylcobalamin, which in noncoordinating solvents persists as a five-coordinate complex. Axial base (N-donors, PBu3, SCN-, weakly binding O-donors) inhibition of methyl transfer from (CH3COPc)-Pc-III shows that the reaction proceeds via the reactive five-coordinate species, even in coordinating solvents. The virtual inactivity of six-coordinate (CH3COPc)-Pc-III(L) complexes provides a reference point for important biological processes.