X-ray photoelectron spectra of cobalt compounds

The X-ray photoelectron spectra of a variety of cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) complexes have been investigated. Intense satellite lines were observed for the 2p, 3s and 3p peaks in the case of the high spin cobalt(II) compounds, but not for low spin cobalt(III) complexes. The satellites of the 2p levels are best explained as arising from shake-up processes, whereas those of the 3s and 3p levels are thought to arise largely from multiplet (exchange) splitting of the levels. Multiplet splitting of the 2p level is small and responsible for an increase in the doublet separation of the 2p_1/2, 2p_3/2 spin-orbit levels of the high spin cobalt(II) compounds. The chemical shifts for cobalt differ for the 2p, 3s and 3p levels of the high spin cobalt(II) compounds. Those of the 2p and 3p levels of diamagnetic cobalt(III) and low spin cobalt(II) complexes are equal. The difference in the case of the high spin cobalt(II) compounds is thought to be due to the presence of unpaired 3d electrons.