Abstract: Aseries of 4 alkyl cobalt Schiff base chelates(RCo(Salen), R=CH₃, C₂H₅, n-C₄H₉, i-C₄H₉) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry and absorption spectroelectrochemistry, using PGEand RVEas the working electrodes, respectively.The RCo(Salen)takes one electron reversible oxidation and reduction processes.The valent variation of cobalt in chelates involved in electrode reactions and the cleavage of the Co-Cbond in both pocesses are analyzed.The effect of axial ligand Ron the electrochemical behavior was presented.The ECEelectrochemical mechanism was described.In order to get further verification, the absorptive spectroelectrochemical experiment has been done, and its result is consistent with the previous mechanism.

Key words: RCo(Salen), Pyrolytic graphite electrode, Cyclic voltainmetry, Absorption spectroelectro-chemistry