Electron transfer, activation control inner sphere

Steric Control of the Inner/Outer-Sphere Electron Transfer 461 Thermal and Photochemical ET in Strongly Coupled CT Complexes 463 Electron-Transfer Paradigm for Arene Transformation via CT Complexes 465 Electron-Transfer Activation of Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution 469 Structural Pre-organization of the Reactants in CT Complexes 470 CT Complexes in Aromatic Nitration and Nitrosation 472 Concluding Summary 475 References 475... 

It has been shown so far that internal and external factors can be combined in the control of the electron-transfer rate. Although in most cases a simple theoretical treatment, e.g. by the Marcus approach, is prevented by the coincidence of these factors, it is clear that the observed features for the isoenergetic self-exchange differ by the electronic coupling and the free energy of activation. Then it is also difficult to separate the inner- and outer-sphere reorganization energies. 

Only in a limited number of instances will the value of k and its associated parameters be useful in diagnosing mechanism. When the redox rate is faster than substitution within either reactant, we can be fairly certain that an outer-sphere mechanism holds. This is the case with Fe + and RuCP+ oxidation of V(II) and with rapid electron transfer between inert partners. On the other hand, when the activation parameters for substitution and redox reactions of one of the reactants are similar, an inner-sphere redox reaction, controlled by replacement, is highly likely. This appears to be the case with the oxidation by a number of Co(III) complexes of V(II), confirmed in some instanees by the appearance of the requisite V(III) complex, e.g. 

Electron transfer from the substrates to 02 proceeds by a redox cycle that consists of copper(II) and copper(I). The high catalytic activity of the copper complex can be explained as follows (1) The redox potential of Cu(I)/Cu(II) fits the redox reaction. (2) The high affinity of Cu(I) to 02 results in rapid reoxidation of the catalyst. (3) Monomers can coordinate to, and dissociate from, the copper complex, and inner-sphere electron transfer proceeds in the intermediate complex. (4) The complex remains stable in the reaction system. It may be possible to investigate other catalysts whose redox potentials can be controlled by the selection of ligands and metal species to conform with these requisites several other suitable catalysts for oxidative polymerization of phenols, such as manganese and iron complexes, are candidates on the basis of their redox potentials. 

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