Reduction of hexaammineruthenium(III) ions by a series of tris(polypyridyl)chromium(II) ions – Revisiting the Cr(NN)33+/2+ self-exchange rate

Abstract

The kinetics of the outer-sphere oxidation of Cr(NN)32+ ions (NN = 2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, and their substituted analogs) by hexaammineruthenium(III) was studied using laser flash photolysis. The Cr(NN)32+ ions were generated via the reductive quenching of the *Cr(NN)33+ excited states by oxalate ions or by H2edta2–. The second-order rate constants were found to vary with the driving force of the reaction. The rate constants increase from (7.1 ± 0.5) × 106 M–1 s–1 for Cr(5-Clphen)32+ to (2.6 ± 0.2) × 108 M–1 s–1 for Cr(4,7-Me2phen)32+. The self-exchange rate constant for the couple (Cr(NN)33+/2+) was calculated by applying Marcus cross relation to present and other known reactions of Cr(NN)3n+ ions, where n = 3 or 2 with various reactants and is estimated to be (6 ± 4) × 107 M–1 s–1.Key words: tris(polypyridyl)chromium(II)/(III) self-exchange rate, hexaammineruthenium(III), oxidation of Cr(NN)32+.