Table 3 Rate laws and kinetic parameters for redox reactions of Mo(CN)83− and W(CN)83− with s2 metal-ion reducing centersa
Oxidation
Reduction
Rate laws
Parameters
W(V)
Mo(V)
In(I)b
In(I)b
k[ox][red]
k = (2.0 ± 0.1) × 105 M−1 s−1
k > 4 × 107 M−1 s−1c
[ox][red] (k3 + k3H[H+])K3[Cl−]3
1+ K1[Cl−] + K2[Cl−]2 + K3[Cl−]3
W(V)
Sn(II)d
k3 = 4.8 ± 0.3 M−1 s−1; k3H = 4.5 ± 0.4 M−2 s−1
K1 = 11.2e, K2 = 32e, K3 = 14f
Mo(V)
Sn(II)d
k3 = (1.71 ± 0.04) × 104 M−1 s−1
k3H = (3.5 ± 0.5) × 103 M−2 s−1
K1 = 11.2e, K2 = 32e, K3 = 14f
[ox][red](ko + kH[H+])KCl[Cl−]
1+ KCl[Cl−]
Mo(V)
W(V)
Ge(II)g
Ge(II)g
ko = (2.0 ± 0.2) × 102 M−1 s−1
kH = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 103 M−2 s−1; KCl = 0.2h
Sequence (18)–(20) in text
a Reactions were carried out at 22.0 ± 0.5 °C; = 389 nm (for Mo), 357 nm (for W). b [H+] = 0.01–0.10 M; [CH3CN] = 0.005–0.50 M; = 0.50 M (ClO4−).
−
c Reaction assumed to be first order in both redox partners. d [H+] = 0.10 = 1.0 M; = 1.0 M (Cl−/ClO4 ). e Ref. 10. f Ref. 8. g [H+] = 0.2–1.0 M; = 1.0 M
(HCl/Cl−) or (HClO4/ClO4−). h Ref. 6.
termediate; such a sequence is preferred for a large number of reduc-
tions of Co(III), Fe(III), and Ru(III) derivatives by In(I) and Ge(II);2,3,17
(B) Reactions of W(CN)83− are slower, by several orders of magni-
tude than those of the more strongly oxidizing Mo(V) analog.
The substitution-inert character of the cyano-bound oxidants and
the reluctance of the s2 reducing centers to utilize cyano bridges lead
us to assign outer-sphere paths to the reactions at hand. The 220 mV
Eo difference in formal potentials of the oxidants9 corresponds, in
terms of the Marcus model for outer-sphere process,18 to a 102-fold
difference in rate constants, in reasonable agreement to the ratios
observed.
The [Cl−]3-dependencies here noted for our Sn(II) reactions bring
to mind those found in an impressive variety of Sn(II) systems,
including reductions of vanadium(V),5 corrin-bound-cobalt(III),6
1,4-quinones,11 and the nitrosodisulfonate anion.19 In each of these
cases, the mechanistic burden is carried predominantly by the
SnCl3− anion. If the reaction involves separate le− transactions,11,19
Fig. 1 Kinetic profile at 357 nm for the reduction of W(V) (1.0 × 10−4
M) by Ge(II) (9.0 × 10−4 M) in 1.0 M HCl aqueous solution at 22 °C. The
solid line represents the experimental data obtained on stopped-flow reactor
whereas the solid circles were absorbances obtained by KINSIM integration
(ref. 14) based on sequence (18)–(19), taking k1 = 7.4 × 10−3 M−1 s−1, and
k−1/k2 1.04 × 10−4 M. Extinction coefficients were 1850 M−1cm−1 for W(V)
and 230 M−1 cm−1 for W(IV). Other species were considered to be negligibly
absorbent. Optical path length 2.00 cm.
attachment of extra chlorides to Sn(II) would be expected to alter
its ligand sheath to one resembling that of Sn(III), thus lowering
the Franck–Condon barrier to the transfer between states. If we are
dealing with a 2e− process,5,6 the effect of polyanation may reason-
ably be attributed to coulombic stabilization of the highly positive
Sn(IV) product.
The reversal of selectivity displayed by Mo(CN)83−, which re-
acts more rapidly with Sn(II) than with the more strongly reducing
state, Ge(II), is perhaps unexpected. It serves to remind us of the
reluctance of the latter reagent to undergo single electron oxida-
tion, implying a relatively high value (probably approaching 0.0 V)
number of le− oxidants.2,3 Note that this treatment allows us to esti-
mate the ratio k2/k−1, but not individual values of these parameters.
Although the rate constants resulting from this treatment cannot
be as precise as those obtained from single component curves, it is
evident that neither k1 nor the ratio k−1/k2 varies substantially with
[H+], but k1 is very nearly inversely proportional to 1/[Cl−]2. The
implication here is that the formation of the reactive intermediate,
Ge(II)*, is preceded by a rapid equilibrium involving loss of two
chloride ions from the principal Ge(II) species. Earlier experiments
by Poshkozim and Stone15 have indicated the latter to be GeCl42− in
0.1–0.5 M HCl.
−
2−
for Eo(GeIII/II). When the oxidant offers a 2e− path (e.g. I3 , PtCl6
)
allowing the donor to bypass GeIII, the potentiometrically-related
selectivity prevails, and reductions by GeII substantially outpace
those by Sn(II).
Undoubtedly, the most notable feature in the present study is the
3−
nearly linear profiles of the Ge(II)–W(CN)8 reactions generated
with the reductant in excess. The implication, that rates are deter-
mined by a process involving the reductant, but not the oxidant, is
closely related to that drawn for the Ge(II)–I3− reaction,3 and must
likewise be regarded as exceptional in that it runs counter to the
accepted view20 that slow metal–ligand bond breakage in coordina-
tion compounds in solution occurs only when activation requires a
significant loss in ligand field stabilization.
In contrast to the W(V)–Sn(II) reaction, which is markedly fa-
cilitated by addition by external chloride, the 1/[Cl−]2-dependence
associated with the initiation of the W(V)–Ge(II) reaction is reflected
in inhibition by chloride. Note that a chloride-influenced electron
transfer act is not involved in the rate-determining step in this case.
In summary, our experiments indicate that all but one of the oxi-
dations of our s2 centers are two-step processes triggered by slow
formation of an s1 intermediate. Points of special interest are: (A)
the unusual reactivity of the SnCl3− anion; and (B) the initiation of
2H2O
slow
2−
→
GeCl4
GeCl (H O) → Ge(II)* (21)
2 2 2
←
Thus, in this instance, the activation of Ge(II) entails two pro-
cesses; the loss of 2Cl− must be rapid and reversible to account for
the [Cl−]−2-dependency, but there must be an additional slow step
to accommodate the approach to linearity observed early in the
progress of the reaction.
Discussion
Rate laws and kinetic parameters are summarized in Table 3. Two
facets of this study may be considered unremarkable: (A) The stoi-
chiometries and kinetic profiles are, with a single exception, consis-
tent with oxidations of s2 species initiated by a le− act, followed by
a much more rapid transfer from the more strongly reducing16 s1 in-
1 8 6 0
D a l t o n T r a n s . , 2 0 0 4 , 1 8 5 8 – 1 8 6 1