Inner-sphere Electron Transfer Research Articles

Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerization in the Presence of Metallic Copper. A Critical Assessment of the SARA ATRP and SET-LRP Mechanisms

Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) in the presence of Cu0 is a versatile technique that can be used to create well-controlled polymers with complex architectures. Despite the facile nature of the technique, there has been a vigorous debate in the literature as to the mechanism of the reaction. One proposed mechanism, named supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SARA ATRP), has CuI as the major activator of alkyl halides, Cu0 acting as a supplemental activator, an inner-sphere electron transfer occurring during the activation step, and relatively slow comproportionation and disproportionation. In SARA ATRP slow activation of alkyl halides by Cu0 and comproportionation of CuII with Cu0 compensates for the small number of radicals lost to termination reactions. Alternatively, a mechanism named single electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) assumes that the CuI species do not activate alkyl halides, but undergo instantaneous disprop...

Photochemistry of iron(iii)-lactic acid complex in aqueous solutions

Photochemistry of a 1: 1 FeIII-lactic acid complex, [Fe(Lact)]+, in aqueous solutions was studied by stationary photolysis, nanosecond laser flash photolysis (355 nm, 6 ns), and femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy (400 nm, 200 fs). The quantum yield of photolysis of [Fe(Lact)]+ upon excitation at 355 nm is 0.4 and 0.22 in the deoxygenated and air-saturated solutions, respectively. Weak transient absorption in the range 500–750 nm was observed in the nanosecond experiments. It was assigned to a [FeII...-O-CH(Me)-COO·]+ radical complex. The spectral properties of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer excited state and the characteristic time of formation of the radical complex (1.5 ps) were determined in the femtosecond spectroscopy experiments. A reaction mechanism was proposed, which involves inner-sphere electron transfer in the excited complex with the formation of a radical complex [FeII...-O-CH(Me)-COO·]+ and its subsequent transformation to the end product of the photochemical reaction.

On the mechanism of activation of copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization

The mechanism of activation of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been analyzed by investigating the kinetics of dissociative electron transfer (ET) to alkyl halides (RX) in acetonitrile. Using a series of alkyl halides, including both bromides and chlorides, the rate constants of ET (kET) to RX by electrogenerated aromatic radical anions (A−) acting as outer-sphere donors have been measured and analyzed according to the current theories of dissociative ET. This has shown that the kinetic data fit very well the “sticky” dissociative ET model with the formation of a weak adduct held together by electrostatic interactions. The rate constants of activation, kact, of some alkyl halides, namely chloroacetonitrile, methyl 2-bromopropionate and ethyl chloroacetate, by [CuIL]+ (L=tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine, tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, 1,1,4,7,7-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) have also been measured in the same experimental conditions. Comparisons of the measured kact values with those predicted assuming an outer-sphere ET for the complexes have shown that activation by Cu(I) is 7–10 orders of magnitude faster than required by outer-sphere ET. Therefore, the mechanism of RX activation by Cu(I) complexes used as catalysts in ATRP occurs by an inner-sphere ET or more appropriately by a halogen atom abstraction.

Catalytic deactivation of gold surface as a consequence of Prussian blue electrodeposition and removal

It is shown that the gold surface is catalytically deactivated and smoothened upon removal of the Prussian blue (PB)–gold nanocomposite formed on the gold surface. Atomic force microscopy proves surface smoothening after PB removal. The voltammetric responses of Ru(NH3)6Cl3 on the smoothened surface remain unaffected, but the reactions that involve multistep and inner-sphere electron transfer are affected on the smoothened surface as exemplified by hydroquinone, ferrous oxalate redox reactions, and oxygen reduction. These effects are attributed to catalytic deactivation as a consequence of removal of the active sites.

Inner-Sphere Electron-Transfer Single Iodide Mechanism for Dye Regeneration in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

During the regeneration of the oxidized dye in dye-sensitized solar cells, the redox couple of I(-)/I(3)(-) reduces the photo-oxidized dye. The simplest mechanism would be a direct charge-transfer mechanism from I(-) to D(+) [D(+) + I(-) → D(0) + I], called the single iodide process (SIP). However, this is an unfavorable equilibrium because the redox potential of I(•)/I(-) is 1.224 V vs SHE, which is 0.13 V higher than that of the dye. This led to the postulation of the two iodide process (TIP) [(D(+)···I(-)) + I(-) → (D···I(2)(-)) → D(0) + I(2)(-))] for a sufficiently high reducing power, but TIP is not consistent with either the recent experimental data suggesting the first-order kinetics or recent time-resolved spectroscopic measurements. To resolve this conundrum, we used quantum mechanics including Poisson-Boltzmann solvation to examine the electron-transfer process between I(-) and D(+) for the Ru(dcb)(2)NCS(2) or N3 dye. We find that I(-) is attracted to the oxidized dye, positioning I(-) next to the NCS. At this equilibrium position, the I(-) electron is already 40% transferred to the NCS, showing that the redox potential of I(-) is well matched with the dye. This matching of the redox potential occurs because I(-) is partially desolvated as it positions itself for the inner-sphere electron transfer (ISET). The previous analyses all assumed an outer-sphere electron-transfer process. Thus our ISET-SIP model is consistent with the known redox potentials and with recent experimental reports. With the ISET-SIP mechanism, one can start to consider how to enhance the dye regeneration kinetics by redesigning ligands to maximize the interaction with iodide.

Nickel-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions of Alkyl Electrophiles, Including Unactivated Tertiary Halides, To Generate Carbon–Boron Bonds

Through the use of a catalyst formed in situ from NiBr(2)·diglyme and a pybox ligand (both of which are commercially available), we have achieved our first examples of coupling reactions of unactivated tertiary alkyl electrophiles, as well as our first success with nickel-catalyzed couplings that generate bonds other than C-C bonds. Specifically, we have determined that this catalyst accomplishes Miyaura-type borylations of unactivated tertiary, secondary, and primary alkyl halides with diboron reagents to furnish alkylboronates, a family of compounds with substantial (and expanding) utility, under mild conditions; indeed, the umpolung borylation of a tertiary alkyl bromide can be achieved at a temperature as low as -10 °C. The method exhibits good functional-group compatibility and is regiospecific, both of which can be issues with traditional approaches to the synthesis of alkylboronates. In contrast to seemingly related nickel-catalyzed C-C bond-forming processes, tertiary halides are more reactive than secondary or primary halides in this nickel-catalyzed C-B bond-forming reaction; this divergence is particularly noteworthy in view of the likelihood that both transformations follow an inner-sphere electron-transfer pathway for oxidative addition.

Fundamental Mechanistic Understanding of Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Reduction on Pt and Non-Pt Surfaces: Acid versus Alkaline Media

Complex electrochemical reactions such as Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) involving multi-electron transfer is an electrocatalytic inner-sphere electron transfer process that exhibit strong dependence on the nature of the electrode surface. This criterion (along with required stability in acidic electrolytes) has largely limited ORR catalysts to the platinum-based surfaces. New evidence in alkaline media, discussed here, throws light on the involvement of surface-independent outer-sphere electron transfer component in the overall electrocatalytic process. This surface non-specificity gives rise to the possibility of using a wide-range of non-noble metal surfaces as electrode materials for ORR in alkaline media. However, this outer-sphere process predominantly leads only to peroxide intermediate as the final product. The importance of promoting the electrocatalytic inner-sphere electron transfer by facilitation of direct adsorption of molecular oxygen on the active site is emphasized by using pyrolyzed metal porphyrins as electrocatalysts. A comparison of ORR reaction mechanisms between acidic and alkaline conditions is elucidated here. The primary advantage of performing ORR in alkaline media is found to be the enhanced activation of the peroxide intermediate on the active site that enables the complete four-electron transfer. ORR reaction schemes involving both outer- and inner-sphere electron transfer mechanisms are proposed.

Cobalt substitution supports an inner-sphere electron transfer mechanism for oxygen reduction in pea seedling amine oxidase.

Copper amine oxidases (CAOs) are a large family of proteins that use molecular oxygen to oxidize amines to aldehydes with the concomitant production of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. CAOs utilize two cofactors for this reaction: topaquinone (TPQ) and a Cu(II) ion. Two mechanisms for oxygen reduction have been proposed for these enzymes. In one mechanism (involving inner-sphere electron transfer to O(2)), Cu(II) is reduced by TPQ, forming Cu(I), to which O(2) binds, forming a copper-superoxide complex. In an alternative mechanism (involving outer-sphere electron transfer to O(2)), O(2) is directly reduced by TPQ, without reduction of Cu(II). Substitution of Cu(II) with Co(II) has been used to distinguish between the two mechanisms in several CAOs. Because it is unlikely that Co(II) could be reduced to Co(I) in this environment, an inner-sphere mechanism, as described above, is prevented. We adapted metal replacement methods used for other CAOs to the amine oxidase from pea seedlings (PSAO). Cobalt-substituted PSAO (CoPSAO) displayed nominal catalytic activity: k(cat) is 4.7% of the native k(cat), and K(M) (O(2)) for CoPSAO is substantially (22-fold) higher. The greatly reduced turnover number for CoPSAO suggests that PSAO uses the inner-sphere mechanism, as has been predicted from (18)O isotope effect studies (Mukherjee et al. in J Am Chem Soc 130:9459-9473, 2008), and is catalytically compromised when constrained to operate via outer-sphere electron transfer to O(2). This study, together with previous work, provides strong evidence that CAOs use both proposed mechanisms, but each homolog may prefer one mechanism over the other.

Solution behavior of iron(iii) and iron(ii) porphyrins in DMSO and reaction with superoxide. Effect of neighboring positive charge on thermodynamics, kinetics and nature of iron-(su)peroxo product

The solution behavior of iron(III) and iron(II) complexes of 5(4),10(4),15(4),20(4)-tetra-tert-butyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (H(2)tBuTPP) and the reaction with superoxide (KO(2)) in DMSO have been studied in detail. Applying temperature and pressure dependent NMR studies, the thermodynamics of the low-spin/high-spin equilibrium between bis- and mono-DMSO Fe(II) forms have been quantified (K(DMSO) = 0.082 ± 0.002 at 298.2 K, ΔH° = +36 ± 1 kJ mol(-1), ΔS° = +101 ± 4 J K(-1) mol(-1), ΔV° = +16 ± 2 cm(3) mol(-1)). This is a key activation step for substitution and inner-sphere electron transfer. The superoxide binding constant to the iron(II) form of the studied porphyrin complex was found to be (9 ± 0.5) × 10(3) M(-1), and does not change significantly in the presence of the externally added crown ether in DMSO (11 ± 4) × 10(3) M(-1). The rate constants for the superoxide binding (k(on) = (1.30 ± 0.01) × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)) and release (k(off) = 11.6 ± 0.7 s(-1)) are not affected by the presence of the external crown ether in solution. The resulting iron(II)-superoxide adduct has been characterized (mass spectrometry, EPR, high-pressure UV/Vis spectroscopy) and upon controlled addition of a proton source it regenerates the starting iron(II) complex. Based on DFT calculations, the reaction product without neighboring positive charge has iron(II)-superoxo character in both high-spin side-on and low-spin end-on forms. The results are compared to those obtained for the analogous complex with covalently attached crown ether, and more general conclusions regarding the spin-state equilibrium of iron(II) porphyrins, their reaction with superoxide and the electronic structure of the product species are drawn.

Kinetics of the oxidation of hydroxyurea with vanadium(V) ions in acidic aqueous solution

Hydroxyurea (HU) effectively reduces vanadate (VO2+) into vanadyl (VO2+) species in acidic aqueous solution acting as a two-electron donor. The reaction starts by the formation of a transient complex followed by an electron transfer process that includes the formation and subsequent fading out of a free radical, U• (U•≡H2N–C(=O)N(H)O•). The rate determining step of the redox reaction is the formation of a free radical either by the inner-sphere one-electron transfer within the formed VO2+-complexes, or by an outer sphere one-electron transfer from VO2+-complex to the second VO2+ ion. Assuming a rapid pre-equilibrium for the proton-transfer and complexation reactions, an inner-sphere electron transfer pathway has been proposed (VO2-U2+\({\mathop{\longrightarrow}\limits^{k_{1}}}\) VO2+-U•2+, k1 = 1.4 s−1) when HU is in excess. When VO2+ in excess, an additional reaction possibly proceeds through two outer-sphere electron-transfer pathways: VO2-U2+ + VO2+ + 2H2O \({\mathop{\longrightarrow}\limits^{k_{4}}}\) VO2+ + VO2+ + U•, and VO2-U2+ + VO(OH)2+ + 2H2O \({\mathop{\longrightarrow}\limits^{k_{5}}}\) VO(OH)2+ + VO2+ + U•, characterized by k4 = 22 s−1 mol−1 dm3, and k5 = 3.8 × 103 s−1 mol−1 dm3.

The Effect of Replacing Carbon by Nitrogen in Reductions with SmI2: Reduction of Azobenzene

The reduction of azobenzene by SmI(2) in THF to give hydrazobenzene was investigated. The kinetics are first order in the substrate and first order in SmI(2). The kinetic order in MeOH is ca. 0.56, and in TFE it is ca. 0.2. The fractional order in the proton donors is interpreted as being a result of their acting in two opposing manners. In one the proton donor enhances the reaction by protonation of the radical anion, and in the other it slows the reaction by binding to the lone pair electrons of the nitrogen in the azobenzene. This hampers the fast inner-sphere electron-transfer mode. Experiments conducted in the presence of low concentrations of HMPA show rate enhancement suggesting that the SmI(2), which is partly coordinated to HMPA molecules, has some free sites to bind to the substrate. When more HMPA is added, it prevents the fast inner-sphere mechanism and the rate decreases. In this system, the increase in the reduction potential of SmI(2) caused by HMPA is similar to the rate enhancement by an inner sphere mechanism. In general, the replacement of a skeletal carbon by a nitrogen atom causes a significant rate enhancement.

Isoniazid metal complex reactivity and insights for a novel anti-tuberculosis drug design

For over a decade, tuberculosis (TB) has been the leading cause of death among infectious diseases. Since the 1950s, isoniazid has been used as a front-line drug in the treatment of TB; however, resistant TB strains have limited its use. The major route of isoniazid resistance relies on KatG enzyme disruption, which does not promote an electron transfer reaction. Here, we investigated the reactivity of isoniazid metal complexes as prototypes for novel self-activating metallodrugs against TB with the aim to overcome resistance. Reactivity studies were conducted with hydrogen peroxide, hexacyanoferrate(III), and aquopentacyanoferrate(III). The latter species showed a preference for the inner-sphere electron transfer reaction pathway. Additionally, electron transfer reaction performed with either free isoniazid or (isoniazid)pentacyanoferrate(II) complex resulted in similar oxidized isoniazid derivatives as observed when the KatG enzyme was used. However, upon metal coordination, a significant enhancement in the formation of isonicotinic acid was observed compared with that of isonicotinamide. These results suggest that the pathway of a carbonyl-centered radical might be favored upon coordination to the Fe(II) owing to the π-back-bonding effect promoted by this metal center; therefore, the isoniazid metal complex could serve as a potential metallodrug. Enzymatic inhibition assays conducted with InhA showed that the cyanoferrate moiety is not the major player involved in this inhibition but the presence of isoniazid is required in this process. Other isoniazid metal complexes, [Ru(CN)(5)(izd)](3-) and [Ru(NH(3))(5)(izd)](2+) (where izd is isoniazid), were also unable to inhibit InhA, supporting our proposed self-activating mechanism of action. We propose that isoniazid reactivity can be rationally modulated by metal coordination chemistry, leading to the development of novel anti-TB metallodrugs.

Influence of Inner- and Outer-Sphere Electron Transfer Mechanisms during Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Reduction in Alkaline Media

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is generally considered to be more facile in alkaline media compared to its acidic counterparts. The fundamental reasoning for this statement has been quite elusive and not understood very well. A pertinent review of the literature in alkaline media on noble and non-noble metal electrocatalysts is presented here along with experimental results to investigate the rationale behind the so-called kinetic facility in alkaline media. Increasing the pH from 0 to 14 has several effects on the electrode–electrolyte interface in terms of the working electrode potential range, the strength of adsorption of the reaction intermediates, and spectator species. Besides these, the reasons for kinetic facility are investigated from the perspective of the changes in the double layer structure and electrochemical reaction mechanisms in transitioning from acidic to alkaline environment. In this context, specifically adsorbed hydroxyl species are found to promote an outer-sphere electron transfer ORR mechanism in alkaline media. A surface independent outer-sphere electron transfer component is proposed to be the reason for the so-called facile kinetics of ORR in alkaline media on a wide range of non-noble metal surfaces. However, this outer-sphere process predominantly leads only to a 2e– peroxide intermediate as the final product. The importance of promoting the electrocatalytic inner-sphere electron transfer mechanism by facilitation of direct adsorption of molecular oxygen and the stabilization of the peroxide intermediate on the active site are emphasized with the usage of chalcogen modified transition metals and pyrolyzed biomimetic metal porphyrins as electrocatalysts.

Intermediates in photochemistry of Fe(III) complexes with carboxylic acids in aqueous solutions

The primary processes in the photochemistry of Fe(III) complexes with carboxylic acids (glyoxalic, tartaric, pyruvic and lactic) were studied by means of laser flash photolysis. The inner-sphere electron transfer with the formation of Fe(II) complex and an escape of an organic radical to the solution bulk was shown to be a minor channel of the photolysis. The main channel was proposed to be the formation of a long-lived radical complex [Fe(II)···˙OOC-R](2+). Spectral and kinetic parameters of the radical complexes are determined.

Time-Resolved Kinetic Study of the Electron-Transfer Reactions between Ring-Substituted Cumyloxyl Radicals and Alkylferrocenes. Evidence for an Inner-Sphere Mechanism

A time-resolved kinetic study of the reactions of ring-substituted cumyloxyl radicals (4-X-CumO(•): X = OMe, t-Bu, Me, Cl, CF(3)) with methylferrocenes (Me(n)Fc: n = 2, 8, 10) has been carried out in acetonitrile solution. Evidence for an electron transfer (ET) process has been obtained for all radicals and an increase in reactivity has been observed on decreasing the oxidation potential of the ferrocene donor and on going from electron-releasing to electron-withdrawing ring substituents. Computations predict the formation of strongly bound π-stacked 4-X-CumO(•)/DcMFc complexes, characterized by intracomplex π-π distances around 4 Å. These findings point toward a (nonbonded) inner-sphere ET mechanism for the reactions of the 4-X-CumO(•)/Me(n)Fc couples.

Kinetic and mechanistic studies of the reactions of diarylgermylenes and tetraaryldigermenes with carbon tetrachloride

The mechanisms of the reactions of diphenylgermylene (GePh2) with CCl4 in hydrocarbon solvents and in THF solution have been studied, employing 3,4-dimethyl-1,1-diphenylgermacyclopent-3-ene (6a) and 1,1-diphenylgermacyclobutane (17) as photochemical precursors to GePh2. In hydrocarbon solvents, the reaction produces Ph2GeCl2 (10) and Ph2Ge(Cl)CCl3 (12) in a ratio of 10:12 ≈ 7, along with a variety of other radical-derived products and small amounts of Ph2GeH(D)Cl (11), which is formed partly by reaction of GePh2 with adventitious HCl. The reaction is much cleaner in THF, where 12 is formed as the major product (10:12 ≈ 0.8); a similar product distribution is obtained in hexanes containing 0.05 mol/L THF, while 12 is the exclusive product in hexanes containing 3 mmol/L NEt3. Rate constants for the reactions of CCl4 with GePh2 and five ring-substituted derivatives were determined by laser flash photolysis, as well as Arrhenius parameters for reaction of the parent (GePh2), in the two solvents. The reactions of GePh2 with CCl4 and CHCl3 have also been studied in 3-methylpentane solution at 78–90 K. Different reaction mechanisms are clearly operative in hydrocarbon and complexing solvents, but both involve modest charge donation from germanium to the substrate in the transition state for the rate-determining step. For the reaction in hydrocarbon solvents, the data are consistent with inner-sphere electron transfer following or in concert with weak Lewis acid–base complexation. A similar mechanism is proposed for the reaction in THF solution, in competition with a second involving nucleophilic attack of the germylene–THF complex at a chlorine atom of the substrate. Rate constants were also determined for reaction of CCl4 with the corresponding tetraaryldigermenes at low halocarbon concentrations in hexanes, along with Arrhenius parameters for the parent (Ge2Ph4). These reactions also proceed via initial Cl-atom abstraction, based on the identity of the products formed in the reaction of CCl4 with tetramesityldigermene.

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of N-methylethylamine by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion

Oxidation of N-methylethylamine by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) ([Ag(HIO6)2]5−) in alkaline medium results in demethylation, giving rise to formaldehyde and ethylamine as the oxidation products. The oxidation kinetics has been followed spectrophotometrically in the temperature range of 20.0–35.0 °C, and shows an overall second-order character: being first-order with respect to both Ag(III) and N-methylethylamine. The observed second-order rate constants k′ increase with increasing [OH−] of the reaction medium, but decrease with increasing the total concentration of periodate. An empirical rate expression for k′ has been derived as: k′ = (k a + k b[OH−])K 1/{f([OH−])[IO4 −]tot + K 1}, where k a and k b are rate parameters, and K 1 is an equilibrium constant. These parameters have been evaluated at all the temperatures studied, enabling calculation of activation parameters. A reaction mechanism is suggested to involve two pre-equilibria, leading to formation of an intermediate Ag(III) complex, namely [Ag(HIO6)(OH)(MeNHEt)]2−. In the subsequent rate-determining steps, this intermediate undergoes inner-sphere electron transfer from the coordinated amine to the metal center via two distinct routes, one of which is spontaneous while the other is mediated by a hydroxide ion.

Transition metal complexes with “non-innocent” ligands in the activation of hydrogen sulfide

The reactions of hydrogen sulfide with transition metal complexes containing redox-active ligands are studied. A combination of electrochemical and spectral data indicates that the one-electron process affording the hydrogen sulfide radical and monoanionic complexes is an elementary act for the most part of the reactions studied. The accessibility of the metal center in the Co, Ni, Zn, and Pt complexes allows hydrogen sulfide to preliminary coordinate to the metal followed by the inner-sphere electron transfer in the hydrogen sulfide-metal-organic ligand system. Active intermediates (radical cation, thiyl radical, and proton) formed due to oxidation react with aromatic substrates. The substitution reaction in the aromatic ring produces a mixture of isomeric thiols and dimerization products of organylthiyl radicals (disulfides).

Volume Profile Analysis for the Reversible Binding of Superoxide to Form Iron(II)-Superoxo/Iron(III)-Peroxo Porphyrin Complexes

The one-electron reduced iron(II)-dioxygen adduct, {Fe(II)-O(2)}(-), is known to be an important intermediate in the catalytic cycle of heme (mono)oxygenases. The same type of species, considered as Fe(III)-peroxo, can be formed in a direct reaction between a Fe(II) center and superoxide. In a unique high-pressure study of the reaction between superoxide and the Fe(II) complex of a crown ether porphyrin conjugate in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), the overall Fe(II)-superoxide interaction mechanism could be visualized and the nature of all species that occur along the reaction coordinate could be clarified. The equilibrium between the low-spin and high-spin forms of the starting Fe(II) complex was quantified, which turns out to be the actual activation step toward substitution and subsequent inner-sphere electron transfer reactions. The constructed reaction volume profile demonstrates that the reaction product consists of Fe(III)-peroxo and Fe(II)-superoxo species that exist in equilibrium, which can better account for the versatile reactivity of {Fe(II)-O(2)}(-) adducts toward different substrates.

ChemInform Abstract: Inner-Sphere Electron Transfer in Organic Chemistry. Relevance to Electrophilic Aromatic Nitration

ChemInform Abstract: Inner-Sphere Electron Transfer in Organic Chemistry. Relevance to Electrophilic Aromatic Nitration