a) Consider the IR spectra of each of the compounds in the spectral region 400-2000 cm^-1 and answer the following questions:

i) Identify 4 of the intense bands of the phenanthroline ligand; list the wavenumber of these bands for free phenanthroline and phenanthroline coordinated to Co^II and Co^III.
                    phen                 [Co(phen)₃]²⁺          [Co(phen)₃]³⁺
band 1
band 2
band 3
band 4

Are the vibrational bands of the phen ligand reasonably similar for the three cases?

Do the bands uniformly move to higher or lower wavenumber ?

ii) What do the observations in part i) imply about the bonding within the phen ligand in the coordinated and free forms? (Hint: if the spectra are similar then the bonding/local symmetry of the ligand is retained, if not then a significant change in bonding/symmetry is implied)

iii) Compare the changes in vibrational spectra of the phen ligand which result from conversion to the quinone. What has more effect on the bonding within the phen ligand, binding to the metal or conversion to the quinone?

iv) Identify the v(CO) band of the quinone and the vibrational bands due to the anions (why is no anion vibration observed for [Co(phen)₃]Br₂?)

b) Preparation of resolved D(+)-tris(phen)cobalt(II) is achieved by precipitation with antimonyl-d-tartrate [in an analogous procedure to that given in step 3 (a)]. This reaction proceeds with QUANTITATIVE conversion of Co²⁺ to D(+)-tris(phen)cobalt(II). How is it possible to achieve a yield of >50% based on Co²⁺ (i.e. >100% optical yield) in this case?

The oxidation of D(+)-tris(1,10 phenanthroline)cobalt(II)antimonyl-d-tartrate by chlorine proceeds with retention of optical activity. Why does this infer that the cobalt(II) complex is in the solid-state when it is oxidised?

[Co(phen)₃]²⁺ catalyses the racemisation of D-(+)[Co(phen)₃]³⁺. Propose a mechanisim for this reaction.