Electron transfer in media with local fluctuations

Salt and Solvent Effects on the Kinetics of the Oxidation of the Excited State of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ Complex by S2O82-

The title reaction was studied in different reaction media: aqueous salt solutions (NaNO3) and water-cosolvent (methanol) mixtures. The observed rate constants, k(obs), show normal behavior in the solutions containing the electrolyte, that is, a negative salt effect. However, the solvent effect is abnormal, because a decrease of the rate constant is observed when the dielectric constant of the reaction medium decreases. These effects (the normal and the abnormal) can be explained using the Marcus-Hush treatment for electron transfer reactions. To apply this treatment, the true, unimolecular, electron-transfer rate constants, k(et), have been obtained from k(obs) after calculation of the rate constants corresponding to the formation of the encounter complex from the separate reactants, k(D), and the dissociation of this complex, k(-D). This calculation has been carried out using an exponential mean spherical approach (EMSA).

“Abnormal” Salt and Solvent Effects on Anion/Cation Electron-Transfer Reactions: An Interpretation Based on Marcus−Hush Treatment

Salt and solvent effects on the kinetics of the reactions [Fe(CN)6]3- + [Ru(NH3)5pz](2+) right arrow over left arrow [Fe(CN)6]4- + [Ru(NH3)5pz]3+ (pz = pyrazine) have been studied through T-jump measurements. The forward and reverse reactions show different behaviors: "abnormal" salt and solvent effects in the first case and normal effects in the second one. These facts imply an asymmetric behavior of anion/cation reactions depending on the charge of the oxidant. The results can be rationalized by using the Marcus-Hush treatment for electron-transfer reactions.