Three new mononuclear cobalt(III) complexes, [Co(L-1)(2)ClO4 center dot 2H(2)O (1) {HL1 = 2((2(2-hydroxyethylamino) ethylimino)methyl)-6-methoxyphenol}, [Co(L-2)(acna)(N-3)] (2) (HL2= 2((2(2-hydroxyethylamino) ethylimino)methyl)-6-ethoxyphenol, Hacna = 2-acetyl-1-naphthol} and [CO(L-3)(bzan)(N-3)] (3) {HL3 = 1 ((2(diethylarnino)ethylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol, Hbzan = 1-benzoylacetone) were prepared and characterized by elemental and spectral analysis. The structures of all complexes were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analyses. Weak noncovalent interactions lead to the formation of extended supra molecular assemblies in them. Both complexes 2 and 3 may be used as moderate catalyst for the oxidation of 2-aminophenol to 2-aminophenoxazine-3-one. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.