Radiation induced dissociation of cobalt and chromium complexes

In this paper we will present a brief overview of the pulse radiolysis facility at the Australian Radiation Laboratory and the results of recent experiments carried out using this facility. The ARL pulse radiolysis facility utilises a 20 MeV linac electron accelerator which is able to consistently deliver an electron pulse of 10 Gy in 500 ns. The detection system is spectroscopic and is capable of monitoring samples at an interval of down to 10 ns. Our initial studies have consisted of the rapid reduction of simple mixed diimine Co(III) complexes containing the ligands 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, ethylenediamine and dipyridophenazine. Following the initial reduction of these complexes a number of processes were observed leading to ligand loss. These experiments have been carried out in conjunction with structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic studies on these complexes