The Co(I) species resulting from the reduction of two mononuclear species [CoL n Cl 2 ] (where L = 2,2'bipyridine (bpy) and n = 2, or L = trans-2-(2'-quiolyl)methylene-3-quinuclidione (quin) and n = 1), was studied by 59 Co NMR spectroscopy, UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy, and spectroelectrochemical techniques. A quasi-stable Co(I) species produced by the reduction of [Co(bpy) 2 Cl 2 ] was studied and gave a 59 Co NMR spectroscopic chemical shift of 2934 ppm in CD 3 CN-D 2 O (4:1, v/v) and a broad peak of max = 600 nm in the UV-visible region of the spectrum. The Co(I) species generated from [Co(quin)Cl 2) (when reduced by electrochemical methods) was found to be unstable and produced a transient of max = 530 nm. Both [CoL n Cl 2 ] species were examined as electrocatalysts for the proton reduction in an acetonitrile-water solvent mixture in the presence of p-cyanoanilinium tetrafluoroborate. The electrochemical properties of both species showed a dependence on the supporting electrolyte which also affected the electrocatalytic behavior. The simulation of the cyclic voltammograms in CH 3 CN-H 2 O (4:1, v/v) allowed for the extraction of kinetic data and suggested a homogenous reaction following the reduction to a Co(I) metal centre with rate constants k = 0.01 s-1 and 2 M s-1 for the Co(I) species with the ligands, bpy and quin, respectively. Analysis of the head space of controlled potential electrolysis experiments for an hour, in the presence of p-cyanoanilinium tetrafluoroborate, confirmed the production of hydrogen, and also showed that the supporting electrolyte affected the production of hydrogen at a glassy carbon electrode in CH 3 CN-H 2 O (either 1:1 or 4:1, v/v). A mechanism was postulated which involved a Co III-H species as the most likely candidate and appeared to involve both a homolytic and a heterolytic pathway towards the production of hydrogen.