skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Nucleophilic addition of. cap alpha. -hydroxyalkyl radicals to polypyridyl complexes of chromium(III), cobalt(III), rhodium(III), and ruthenium(II) in aqueous solution

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5018406
 [1]; ; ;
  1. Instituto di fotochimica e radiazioni d'Alta Energia del C.N.R., Bologna, Italy

The reactions of radiolytically generated ..cap alpha..-hydroxyalkyl radicals of the form R/sub 1/R/sub 2/COH, where R = H and CH/sub 3/ with M(NN)/sub 3//sup n+/ complexes, where M = Cr(III), Co(III), Rh(III), and Ru(II) and NN = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), proceed via electron transfer and/or addition of the radicals to the complex. The distribution of the products is controlled by the relative rate constants of electron transfer and addition which, in turn, are affected by the redox potential of the radical-complex couple and by the nature of the ligand. The overall rate constants for the radicals increase always in the order .CH/sub 2/OH < CH/sub 3/CHOH < (CH/sub 3/)/sub 2/COH. The radical adducts show lambda/sub max/ 475 nm and are discussed in terms of the known nucleophilic character of the ..cap alpha..-hydroxyalkyl radicals and the electron-deficient nature of these nitrogen heteroaromatic ligands. The limitations to the utilization of methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol as H and OH radical scavengers and as sources of reducing radicals in the presence of polypyridyl complexes is discussed.

OSTI ID:
5018406
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 84:17
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English