title: Electron transfer reactions of tris(polypyridine)cobalt(III) complexes, [Co(N-N)3]3+, with verdazyl radicals in acetonitrile solution.
abstract: The kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of 3-(4-X)-phenyl-1,5-diphenyl-verdazyl radicals where X = Cl, H, CH3 and CH3O with [Co(N-N)3]3+, N-N = 2,2'-bipyridyl (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4,7-Me2phen), have been investigated in acetonitrile at 25 degrees C and ionic strength 0.05 mol dm(-3)(nC4H9)4NPF6 using stopped flow spectrophotometry. In all cases, transfer of one electron from the radical takes place resulting in the production of a Co(II) species and a verdazylium cation. The electron transfer occurs by an outer-sphere mechanism and the reactions appear to be consistent with Marcus theory. The self-exchange rate constants for the verdazyl-verdazylium cation have been estimated and are of the order of 3.4(+/-1.9) x 10(7) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1). This rate constant is consistent with the fact that the reactions of [Ru(bpy)3]3+ with verdazyl radicals are too rapid to be investigated by stopped flow spectrophotometry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keeney
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hynes