Correlation Analysis of Reactivity in the Photo- and Electro-Reduction of Cobalt(III) Complexes in Binary Organic Solvent/Water Mixtures

Abstract

The photo- and electro-reduction of a series of cobalt(III) complexes of the type cis-β - [Co(trien)(RC6H4NH2)Cl]Cl2 with R = H, p-OMe, p-OEt, p-Me, p-Et, p-F, and m-Me has been studied in binary propan-2-ol/water mixtures. The redox potential (E1/2) and photo-reduction quantum yield (ΦCo(II)) data were correlated with solvent and structural parameters with the aim to shed some light on the mechanism of these reactions. The correlation of E1/2 and ΦCo(II) with macroscopic solvent parameters, viz. relative permittivity, indicated that the reactivity is influenced by both specific and non-specific solute-solvent interactions. The Kamlet-Taft solvatochromic comparison method was used to separate and quantify these effects: An increase in the percentage of organic cosolvent in the medium enhances both reduction processes, and there exists a good linear correlation between E1/2 and ΦCo(II), suggesting a similar solvation of the participants in these redox processes.