Inner-sphere solvation

The dielectric continuum models may allow us to predict speciation in aqueous solutions as a function of temperature simply by changing dielectric constant of the polarizing medium. At first glance, this may simply appear to be a return to the Bom-model formalism. However, the inner sphere solvation would be included explicitly. To include temperature effects on the inner solvation shells, we would have to calculate the partition functions of the cluster defining the metal atom and its first and, possibly, second coordination environment. 

The elementary electrochemical reactions differ by the degree of their complexity. The simplest class of reactions is represented by the outer-sphere electron transfer reactions. An example of this type is the electron transfer reactions of complex ions. The electron transfer here does not result in a change of the composition of the reactants. Even a change in the intramolecular structure (inner-sphere reorganization) may be neglected in many cases. The only result of the electron transfer is then the change in the outer-sphere solvation of the reactants. The microscopic mechanism of this type of reaction is very close to that for the outer-sphere electron transfer in the bulk solution. Therefore, the latter is worth considering first. 

The development of more benign alternatives to cyanide for gold-leaching (see Section 9.17.3.1) such as thiourea, thiocyanate, or thiosulfate, which form stable complexes in water has prompted research to identify suitable solvent extractants from these media. Cyanex 301, 302, 272, Ionquest 801, LIX 26, MEHPA, DEHPA, Alamine 300 (Table 5) have been evaluated as extractants for gold or silver from acidic thiourea solutions.347 Whilst the efficacy of Cyanex 301 and 302 was unaffected by the presence of thiourea in the aqueous feed, the loading of the other extractants is severely depressed. Formation of solvated complexes of gold and of an inner-sphere complex of silver has been proposed.347... 

Where solvent exchange controls the formation kinetics, substitution of a ligand for a solvent molecule in a solvated metal ion has commonly been considered to reflect the two-step process illustrated by [7.1]. A mechanism of this type has been termed a dissociative interchange or 7d process. Initially, complexation involves rapid formation of an outer-sphere complex (of ion-ion or ion-dipole nature) which is characterized by the equilibrium constant Kos. In some cases, the value of Kos may be determined experimentally alternatively, it may be estimated from first principles (Margerum, Cayley, Weatherburn Pagenkopf, 1978). The second step is then the conversion of the outer-sphere complex to an inner-sphere one, the formation of which is controlled by the natural rate of solvent exchange on the metal. Solvent exchange may be defined in terms of its characteristic first-order rate constant, kex, whose value varies widely from one metal to the next. 

In the course of our investigations to develop new chiral catalysts and catalytic asymmetric reactions in water, we focused on several elements whose salts are stable and behave as Lewis acids in water. In addition to the findings of the stability and activity of Lewis adds in water related to hydration constants and exchange rate constants for substitution of inner-sphere water ligands of elements (cations) (see above), it was expected that undesired achiral side reactions would be suppressed in aqueous media and that desired enanti-oselective reactions would be accelerated in the presence of water. Moreover, besides metal chelations, other factors such as hydrogen bonds, specific solvation, and hydrophobic interactions are anticipated to increase enantioselectivities in such media. 

The incursion of inner-sphere pathways (for 1st two entries), solvation differences OJ, Oj) and stereochemical changes are the bases for the differences in theoretical and experimental rate constants. 

The introduction of hydroxide as a unique ligand into the inner-coordination sphere of solvated Cu(II) should diminish Jahn-Teller distortion and notably decrease the rate of inner-sphere substitution. This presumably accounts for the fact that no evidence has been found for a unique contribution of the Cu2(OH)2 " ion in reactions involving solvated Cu(II) up to pH 5.8 [162]. (At higher pH, Cu(OH)2 precipitates.)... 

Figure 1 depicts schematically the interaction of solvated ions with the electrode surface both for outer sphere (a) and inner sphere pathways (b). Notice, however, that some ambiguity is found with respect to the previous definitions for case (c) in which the coordination sphere of the reacting ion penetrates the layer of solvent molecules adjacent to the electrode, but the ligand is the same solvent molecule and therefore cannot be distinguished from the inner layer of solvent molecules. This may be considered an outer sphere pathway unless the solvent ligand adjacent to the electrode is not present in the product of reaction. 

The equilibria considered up to now have all involved inner sphere complexes. There is the possibility that an inner sphere complex may react with free ligands in solution this includes the solvent itself, to give an outer sphere complex where the ligand enters the secondary solvation shell of the inner sphere complex. If the two species involved in this type of interaction are of opposite sign, which is the situation where this type of complex formation is expected to be most effective, the outer sphere complex is called an ion pair. Fuoss65 has derived an expression (equation 38) for the ion pair formation constant, XIP, from electrostatic arguments ... 

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