Mechanisms inner-sphere electron transfer

The kinetics of SO oxidation by [PtClg] have been studied over a wide range of experimental conditions.On the basis of the experimental evidence, a 2e reduction mechanism was proposed. The reduction of Cu(II) by SOl proceeds via Cu"SOf and Cu2S030H intermediates. " The rate law is consistent with consecutive first-order reactions leading to a mechanism involving complexation followed by a rate-determining electron transfer. Inner-sphere electron transfer is also assumed for the electron transfer between Fe(III) and The reduction... 

The second mechanism involves the formation of a covalent bridge through which the electron is passed in the electron transfer process. This is known as the inner-sphere mechanism (Fig. 9-5). 

Figure 9-5. The inner-sphere mechanism for an electron transfer reaction between two complexes. A covalently-linked intermediate is involved in this reaction.

A more interesting situation is found when the homogeneous redox reaction is combined with a chemical reaction between the electrocatalyst and the substrate. In this case, the catalytic process is called chemical catalysis. 3 This mechanism is depicted in Scheme 2 for reduction. The coupling of the electron transfer and the chemical reaction takes place via an inner-sphere mechanism and involves the formation of a catalyst-substrate [MC-S] complex. Here the selectivity of the mechanism is determined by the chemical step. Metal complexes are ideal candidates... 

Traditionally, electron transfer processes in solution and at surfaces have been classified into outer-sphere and inner-sphere mechanisms (1). However, the experimental basis for the quantitative distinction between these mechanisms is not completely clear, especially when electron transfer is not accompanied by either atom or ligand transfer (i.e., the bridged activated complex). We wish to describe how the advantage of using organometals and alkyl radicals as electron donors accrues from the wide structural variations in their donor abilities and steric properties which can be achieved as a result of branching the alkyl moiety at either the a- or g-carbon centers. 

The prospects for electron transfer mechanisms clearly extend beyond inorganic chemistry into the broad regions of organometal-lic and organic systems. Pushed to these limits, adequate quantitative criteria will be needed to delineate outer-sphere from inner-sphere mechanisms. However, the extent to which theoretical studies will provide more concrete guidelines of predictive value will determine whether electron transfer processes will form the basis of reaction mechanisms into the next century. 

There are two mechanisms that could explain the catalytic effects of nitrite an inner-sphere mechanism in which nitrite acts as a nucleophile toward the FeIINO+ moiety (Scheme 3, pathway A) and an outer-sphere path in which nitrite is oxidized to N02 which then reacts with excess NO to form N203 (Scheme 3, pathway B). Although the initial electron transfer step in pathway B is thermodynamically uphill (AE = — 0.3 V) (41,70), one cannot rule out pathway B since N203 is rapidly hydrolyzed, once formed (71). 

It has in general been the objective of many mechanistic studies dealing with inorganic electron-transfer reactions to distinguish between outer- and inner-sphere mechanisms. Along these lines high-pressure kinetic methods and the construction of reaction volume profiles have also been employed to contribute toward a better understanding of the intimate mechanisms involved in such processes. The differentiation between outer- and inner-sphere mechanisms depends... 

Electron transfer reactions may follow two types of mechanism (i) outer sphere mechanism and (ii) inner sphere mechanism. 

According to Taube, the inner sphere mechanism can takes place when both oxidizing and reducing agents are substitution inert and when ligand transfer from oxidant to reductant is accompanied by electron transfer. The inner sphere electron transfer mechanism may be represented by the scheme... 

One final point should be noted. Theoretical discussions of electron transfer processes have focused almost entirely on outer-sphere processes. When we have an inner-sphere mechanism, or sufficient electronic interaction in a dynamically trapped mixed-valence complex to produce a large separation between upper and lower potential surfaces, the usual weak-interaction approach has to be abandoned. Thus a detailed knowledge of a potential surface which is not describable as an intersection surface of perturbed harmonic surfaces, for example, is required. For this purpose, detailed calculations will be required. The theory of these processes will be linked more... 

In this picture, the electron transfer processes mediated by metallic electrodes (redox reactions in a heterogeneous phase) can also be classified to proceed according to outer-sphere or inner-sphere mechanisms (obviously, considering the electrode surface as a reagent). 

Figure 2 Schematic representation of an heterogeneous electron transfer taking place through an inner-sphere mechanism at a negatively charged electrode...

Ru Ru step and a self-exchange rate of 2xlO" M s for the c -[Ru 0)2(L)] " /cw [Ru (0)2(L)]+ couple has been estimated a mechanism involving a pre-equilibrium protonation of ci5-[Ru (0)2(L)]+ followed by outer-sphere electron transfer is proposed for the Ru Ru step. For reduction by [Fe(H20)6] +, an outer-sphere mechanism is proposed for the first step and an inner-sphere mechanism is proposed for the second step. ... 

There has been some exploration of the mechanism of reduction of d transition metal complexes by M2+(aq) (M = Eu, Yb, Sm). Both inner- and outer-sphere mechanisms are believed to operate. Thus the ready reduction of [Co(en)3]3+ by Eu2+(aq) is necessarily outer-sphere. 2 However, the strong rate dependence on the nature of X when [Co(NH3)5X]2+ or [Cr(H20)5X]2+ (X = F, Cl, Br or I) are reduced by Eu2+(aq) possibly suggests an inner-sphere mechanism.653 The more vigorous reducing agent Yb2+ reacts with [Co(NH3)6]3+ and [Co(en)3]3+ by an outer-sphere route but with [Cr(H20)5X]2+ (X = halide) by the inner-sphere mechanism.654 Outer-sphere redox reactions are catalyzed by electron-transfer catalysts such as derivatives of isonicotinic acid, one of the most efficient of which is iV-phenyl-methylisonicotinate, as the free radical intermediate does not suffer attenuation through disproportionation. Using this catalyst, the outer-sphere reaction between Eu2+(aq) and [Co(py)(NH3)5]3+ proceeds as in reactions (18) and (19). Values found were ki = 5.8 x KFM-1 s 1 and k kx = 16.655... 

It is often difficult to distinguish between outer and inner sphere mechanisms. The rate law is of little help since both kinds of electron transfer reactions usually are second order (first order with respect to each reactant) 9... 

Ligand exchange in Fc(phenM5 and in [Felbpyljl- is much slower than the transfer of an electron from the bipvndine complex to the phcnanthroline complex. Why does this rule out an inner sphere mechanism for the electron transfer ... 

Similarities between [Ru(bpy),]2+ (discussed in Chapter 13) and [Pt,(pop)J4 are apparent. Reactive excited states are produced in each when it is subjected to visible light. The excited state ruthenium cation, [Ru(bpy)3]" +, can catalytically convert water to hydrogen and oxygen. The excited slate platinum anion, [Pt,(pop)J 4-, can catalytically convert secondary alcohols to hydrogen and ketones. An important difference, however, is that the ruthenium excited stale species results from (he transfer of an electron from the metal to a bpy ligand, while in the platinum excited state species the two unpaired electrons are metal centered. As a consequence, platinum reactions can occur by inner sphere mechanisms (an axial coordination site is available), a mode of reaction rot readily available to the 18-clectron ruthenium complex.-03... 

As discussed in Vol. 2, Chap. 4, experimental studies, mainly pioneered by Taube [11], revealed two different reaction pathways for redox reactions in solution (i) outer sphere mechanism characterized by weak interaction of the reactive species, with the inner coordination sphere remaining intact during the electron transfer, and reactions occurring through a common ligand shared by the metallic centers thus proceeding by an inner sphere mechanism. 

Like all redox reactions26,28,967,968 those of copper(II) may be divided into two types (a) outer sphere mechanisms involving electron (or proton) transfer between coordination shells that remain essentially intact and (b) inner sphere mechanisms in which the oxidizing and reducing species are connected by a bridging ligand, which is common to both metal ion coordination spheres."9... 

A single oxo bridge may subtend an angle between 140° and 180°, this angle being determined by steric or electronic factors (Table 3).95 103 Almost all these examples refer to the solid state, but there are also several homo- and hetero-nuclear M—O—M and M—O—M—O—M species known in solution. Often these are intermediates in, or products of, electron transfer reactions with oxide-bridging inner-sphere mechanisms. Examples include V—O—V in V(aq)2+ reduction of VO(aq)2+, and Act—O—Cr in Cr(aq)2+ reduction of UOj+ or PuOj+ a useful and extensive list of such species has been compiled. Tlie most recent examples are another V—O—V unit, this time from VO(aq)2+ and VOJ,105 and an all-actinide species containing neptunium(VI) and uranium-(VI).106 An example of a trinuclear anion of this type, with the metal in two oxidation states, is provided by (31).107... 

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