Low Valence States of Metal Chelates. V. Tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II) and bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II) perchlorates

D. C. polarography and cyclic voltammetry were used for investigating the reduction processes of the tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II) and bis(2,9-dimethyl-1, 10-phenanthroline)-cobalt(II) perchlorates in 0.1 M solutions of tetraethylammonium perchlorate in acetonitrile. The first complex gave a four-step reduction wave; the first two steps were found to be diffusion controlled and reversible reductions from Co(phen)⁺ to Co(phen)₃⁺ to Co(phen) to Co(phen;) occured. The second complex gave a six-step reduction wave; the first three steps were found to be diffusion controlled and were to be considered as successive reversible reductions from Co(2, 9dm-phen)⁺ to Co(2, 9dmphen), from Co(2, 9dmphen) to Co(2, 9dmphen)₂ and from Co(2, 9dmphen)₂ to Co(2, 9dmphen).