Complexes of the type [Co(pic)2(LL)], where pic = picolinate; LL = (H2O)2 (1), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy)
(2), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (3) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) (4) have been
synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-visible and 1H-NMR spectroscopy.
Complex 2 crystallized from a mixture of chloroform and methanol in orthorhombic crystal system,
space group Iba2. Complex 3 crystallizes from chloroform in monoclinic crystal system, space group
P121/a1 and in a mixture of water and methanol in triclinic crystal system, space group P¯1.
Co(II)/Co(III) oxidation potentials have been determined by cyclic voltammetry and the concomitant
spectral changes measured by spectroelectrochemistry. The reactions of one electron reducing (e-aq,
(CH3)2.COH and CO2.-) and one electron oxidizing (OH.) radicals with the above metal complexes
have been studied by pulse radiolysis. The rate constants for the reaction of eaq
and .OH radicals with
the complexes are of the order of 1010 and 109 dm3 mol-1 s-1, respectively. The reaction of hydrated
electron (e-aq)
with the complexes results in the formation of a ligand radical anion species which decays
by either protonation of ligand or reduction of metal by intramolecular electron transfer resulting in
cobalt(I) species. The reaction of .OH radical forms the OH-adducts of the ligand.
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