Abstract

Cobalt (II) amino acid complex in aqueous basic solution {[CoL2(H2O)2].H2O and L = L-leucine} was synthesized and analyzed by means of gravimetric analyses, molar conductivity measurements, UV-Visible and IR spectroscopies. Molar conductivity measurements showed that the composition of the metal complex corresponds to a metal-amino acid ligand ratio of 1:2. The IR spectra showed that the amino acid acts as bidentate ligand with coordination involving the carboxyl oxygen and the nitrogen of the amino group. The result also suggests the presence of water of crystallization in the complex. Electronic spectra measurements suggested octahedral local symmetry for Co ion. The results also suggested that the ligand, L-leucine, is a weak field ligand as it formed high spin complex with Co(II) ions. Metal content and hydration water analyses showed that the complex of Co contains one mole of water of crystallization. The results also suggested that the Co(II) complex contains two aqua ligands in their inner coordination sphere.