Using XANES to Monitor the Oxidation State of Cobalt Complexes

X-Ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy was used to monitor the oxidation state of cobalt following treatment of CoIII complexes with reducing agents such as ascorbate and cysteine. It was established that the XANES spectra of mixtures of CoII and CoIII complexes can be used to calculate proportions of the two oxidation states by monitoring the height of the Co K-edge. The relationships developed were used to estimate proportions of each complex in solutions of CoIII complexes treated with reducing agents.