The electrochemical behavior of Os(II) complexes with α,α′-bipyridine and o-phenanthroline in non-aqueous solvents

The electrode reactions of Os(II) complexes with α,α′-bipyridine and o-phenanthroline have been studied in non aqueous solvents. Tris bipyridine and tris phenanthroline complexes of Os(II) give one-step oxidation waves and three-step reduction waves, while bis bipyridine complexes of Os(II) containing py₂, en, CN₂, Cl₂ and Br₂ as mixed ligands give one-step oxidation waves and two-step reduction waves. Most of these waves correspond to reversible single electron transfers. It is noticed that the half-wave potentials or the peak potentials of bis bipyridine complexes are shifted to more negative direction than those of the tris complex in both oxidation and reduction processes. This is attributable to less electron with drawing nature of substituted ligands than bipyridine. These potential data, the shifts of E_1/2 or E_p from those of tris complexes, and δE*, the potential difference between two consecutive single electron waves, are discussed in terms of molecular orbital scheme.