Electron-, Energy-, and Atom-Transfer Reactions between Metal

Electron-, Energy-, and Atom-Transfer Reactions between Metal Complexes and DNA H. Holden Thorp... 

ELECTRON-, ENERGY-, AND ATOM-TRANSFER REACTIONS BETWEEN METAL COMPLEXES... 

The formation of molecular radical ions by electron transfer reactions between alkali metals and a wide variety of aromatic and other organic compounds in polar solvents is well established. A very large number of radical anions have been prepared by this method and extensive studies of their e.s.r. and optical spectra have been made (Bowers, 1965 Gerson, 1967 Kaiser and Kevan, 1968). In solution the electron transfer reaction will be facilitated by the subsequent solvation of the two ions (or ion pair) by the polar solvent molecules. However, we have observed that similar electron transfer reactions occur readily when alkali metal atoms are deposited on a variety of relatively non polar substances at 77°K in the rotating cryostat. In most cases the parent compound acts as the matrix, though for some radical ions an inert matrix of a non-polar hydrocarbon has been used successfully. It is perhaps surprising that the reactions occur so readily as the energy of solvation of the ions must be quite small in most of these systems as compared with that in the polar liquids. 

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