Electrochemistry and Adsorption of Bis 2,2′‐Bipyridinecobalt(I) and Bis 6,6′‐Dimethyl‐2,2′‐Bipyridinecobalt(I) in Acetonitrile

Cyclic voltammetry, coulometry, and chronocoulometry were used to examine the reduction of bis‐2,2′‐bipyridinecobalt(II), Co(bipy)^(2+)_2 , and bis‐6,6′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridinecobalt(II), Co(dmbp)^(2+)_2 in acetonitrile solution. Both of the cobalt(I) reduction products, Co(bipy)^(+)_2 and Co(dmbp)^(+)_2 , adsorb on mercury but not on graphite or platinum electrodes. Formula decomposes at a modest rate while Formula is much more stable. Neither reduced complex proved effective as a catalyst for the electroreduction of nitrous oxide or alkyl halides