Reductions by titanium(II) as catalyzed by titanium(IV)

The cobalt(III) complexes, [(NH3)5CoBr]2+ and [(NH3)5CoI]2+ are reduced by Ti(II) solutions containing Ti(IV), generating nearly linear (zero-order) profiles that become curved only during the last few percent of reaction. Other Co(III)-Ti(II) systems exhibit the usual exponential traces with rates proportional to [Co(III)]. Observed kinetics of the biphasic catalyzed Ti(II)-Co(III)Br and Ti(II)-Co(III)I reactions support the reaction sequence: [Ti(II)(H20)n]2+ + [Ti(IV)F5]- (k1)<==>(k -1) [Ti(II)(H2O)(n-1)]2+ + [(H2O)Ti(IV)F5]-, [Ti(II)(H2O)(n-1)]2+ + Co(III) (k2)--> Ti(III) + Co(II) with rates determined mainly by the slow Ti(IV)-Ti(II) ligand exchange (k1 = 9 x 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1) at 22 degrees C). Computer simulations of the catalyzed Ti(II)-Co(III) reaction in perchlorate-triflate media yield relative rates for reduction by the proposed active [Ti(II)(H2O)(n-1)]2+ intermediate; k(Br)/k(I) = 8.     

Assignment of aluminum corroles absorption bands to electronic transitions by femtosecond polarization resolved VIS-pump IR-probe spectroscopy

We combine femtosecond polarization resolved VIS-pump IR-probe spectroscopy with DFT and TD-DFT calculations to identify and assign absorption bands to electronic transitions for corroles. These macrocycles and their corresponding metal complexes are receiving great attention because of their utility in many fields, while many of their spectroscopic features have not yet been fully described. Analysis of the perturbed free induction decay provides information about the bleaching signal at time zero and allows for determination of overlapping excited state and bleaching signal amplitudes. The S(0) → S(1) and S(0) → S(2) transitions in the Q-band of the hexacoordinated Al(tpfc)(py)(2) and Br(8)Al(tpfc)(py)(2) absorption spectra are explicitly assigned. Angles between these electronic transition dipole moments (tdms) with a single vibrational transition dipole moment of (53 ± 2)° and (34 ± 2)° when excited at 580 and 620 nm for hexacoordinated Al(tpfc)(py)(2) and (51 ± 2)° and (43 ± 2)° when excited at 590 and 640 nm for hexacoordinated Br(8)Al(tpfc)(py)(2) were determined. The relative angles between the two lowest electronic tdms are (90 ± 8)° and (94 ± 3)° for Al(tpfc)(py)(2) and Br(8)Al(tpfc)(py)(2), respectively. Angles are determined before time zero by polarization resolved perturbed free induction decay and after time zero by polarization resolved transients. Comparison of corrole's wave functions with those of porphine show that the reduced symmetry in the corrole molecules results in lifting of Q-band degeneracy and major reorientation of the electronic transition dipole moments within the molecular scaffold. This information is necessary in designing optimal corrole-based electron and energy transfer complexes.     

High-valent imido complexes of manganese and chromium corroles

The oxidation reaction of M(tpfc) [M = Mn or Cr and tpfc = tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole] with aryl azides under photolytic or thermal conditions gives the first examples of mononuclear imido complexes of manganese(V) and chromium(V). These complexes have been characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, UV-vis, EPR, elemental analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. Two X-ray structures have been obtained for Mn(tpfc)(NMes) and Cr(tpfc)(NMes) [Mes = 2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)C(6)H(2)]. Short metal-imido bonds (1.610 and 1.635 Angstroms) as well as nearly linear M-N-C angles are consistent with triple M triple-bond NR bond formation. The kinetics of nitrene [NR] group transfer from manganese(V) corroles to various organic phosphines have been defined. Reduction of the manganese(V) corrolato complex affords phosphine imine and Mn(III) with reaction rates that are sensitive to steric and electronic elements of the phosphine substrate. An analogous manganese complex with a variant corrole ligand containing bromine atoms in the beta-pyrrole positions, Mn(Br(8)tpfc)(NAr), has been prepared and studied. Its reaction with PEt(3) is 250x faster than that of the parent tpfc complex, and its Mn(V/IV) couple is shifted by 370 mV to a more positive potential. The EPR spectra of chromium(V) imido corroles reveal a rich signal at ambient temperature consistent with Cr(V) triple-bond NR (d(1), S = 1/2) containing a localized spin density in the d(xy) orbital, and an anisotropic signal at liquid nitrogen temperature. Our results demonstrate the synthetic utility of organic aryl azides in the preparation of mononuclear metal imido complexes previously considered elusive, and suggest strong sigma-donation as the underlying factor in stabilizing high-valent metals by corrole ligands.     

Organic acid solutions in the chromatography of inorganic ions VIII. Cation-exchange of Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Sc(III), Y(III), Eu(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Yb(III), Ti(IV) and Nb(V) in malate media

Summary The cation-exchange behaviour of Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Sc(III), Y(III), Eu(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Yb(III), Ti(IV) and Nb(V) in malate media at various concentrations and pH, was studied with Dowex 50 WX8 resin (200–400 mesh) in the ammonium form. Separation of Fe(III)/Cu(II), Fe(III)/Cu(II)/Zn(II), Fe(III)/Co(II)/Mn(II), Cu(II)/Ni(II)/Mn(II), Fe(III)/Cu(II)/Co(II)/Mn(II), Fe(III)/Cu(II)/Ni(II)/Cd(II), Yb(III)/Eu(III), Sc(III)/Y(III),Sc(III)/Yb(III)/Dy(III) and Nb(V)/Yb(III)/Ho(III) has been achieved, among others.This work was supported by C.N.R. of Italy.     

Homogeneous solvation controlled photoreduction of cobalt(III) complexes in aqueous 2-methyl-2-propanol solutions linear solvation energy relationship and cyclic voltammetric analyses

The effect of solvent participation on the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT, L-->Co(III)) reduction of the of Co(III)(en)(2)Br(RC(6)H(4)NH(2))(2+) where R=m-OCH(3), p-F, H, m-CH(3), p-CH(3,)p-OC(2)H(5) and p-OCH(3) were examined in aqueous 2-methyl-2-propanol (Bu(t)OH) solutions. The change in the reduction behavior of Co(III) centre was also examined through cyclic voltammetric studies. The observed reduction in quantum yield due to LMCT excitation can mainly be accounted using linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) comprising model correlation equations. These consist of empirical parameters such as Grunwald-Winstein's solvent ionizing power, Y, Dimroth-Richardt's solvent micro-polarity parameter, E(T)(N), Gutmann's donor number, DN(N), along with Kamlet-Taft's solvatochromic parameters (hydrogen bond acceptor acidity/basicity alpha/beta and solvent dipolarity/polarizability, pi*). The origin of solvent effect is found to be due to microscopic interaction between the solvent donor and the nitrogen-bound hydrogen of the ligand. Cyclic voltammograms show an irreversible reduction of Co(III) in DMF using Glassy Carbon Electrode, GCE, the redox peaks for the aniline complexes appear at -0.20 and 0.525V. Irradiation of the complexes with UV light (lambda=254nm) in binary mixtures produce Co(II)(aq) and the concentration of this species are highly dependent on x(alc) (x(alc)=mole fraction of alcohol). The observed quantum yield (logPhi(Co(II))) is found to be linearly related to mole fraction of organic co-solvent added in the mixture, therefore, logPhi(Co(II))=26.41 x 10(-2) when x(2)=0.0094 and 43.75 x 10(-2) when x(2)=0.076 for a typical complex Co(III)(en)(2)Br(p-OCH(3)C(6)H(4)NH(2))(2+) in aqueous 2-methyl-2-propanol at 300K. Cyclic voltammetry and LSER analyses illustrate the variation of reduction property of Co(III) by the aryl ligand and homogeneous solvation of the excited state of the complex Co(III)(en)(2)Br(RC(6)H(4)NH(2))(2+) in H(2)O/Bu(t)OH mixtures.     

Electrochemical and electrocatalytic studies of the N,N′-(1R,2R)-(–)-1,2-cyclohexylenebis(salicylideneiminato)cobalt(II) complex

The electrochemical properties and catalytic activity of a Co(II) complex with the optically active Schiff base derived from (1R,2R)-(–)-cyclohexanediamine and salicylaldehyde have been studied in non-aqueous solutions. When dissolved in deoxygenated non-aqueous solutions, the complex exhibits reversible redox properties for the Co(II)/Co(III) couple. Electrochemical reduction of oxygen and oxidation of cobalt(II) was observed on cyclic voltammograms of solutions containing both dioxygen and the Schiff base-cobalt(II) complex. An anodically formed film on a platinum electrode, studied by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, revealed the presence of the oxidized Co(III) species. Cyclic voltammetry of oxygenated solutions examined after a period of time indicates an electrochemical activity of coordinated superoxo/peroxo species in the 0.7–1.1 V potential range. In the presence of 4-methyl-1-cyclohexene the cyclic voltammetry curves reveal changes similar to those caused by the removal of oxygen. The GC-MS technique was used to identify some of the products formed by the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene and 4-methyl-1-cyclohexene. Electronic Publication     

Organic acid solutions in the chromatography of inorganic ions. VII. Cation exchange of Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) in succinate media

Summary The cation-exchange behaviour of Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Mn(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) in succinate media at various concentrations and pH, was studied with Dowex 50 WX8 resin (200–400 mesh) in the NH ₄ ⁺ form. As examples separations of Cd(II)/Co(II), Cd (II)/Ni(II), Fe(III)/Cu(II)/Ni(II) and Mg(II)/Ca(II)/Sr(II)/Ba(II) have been achieved.This work was supported by C.N.R. of Italy.     

Manganese(III) corrole-oxidant adduct as the active intermediate in catalytic hydrogen atom transfer

Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions from dihydroanthracene to ArINTs (Ar = 2- tert-butylsulfonyl)benzene and Ts = p-toluenesulfonyl) is catalyzed by Mn(tpfc) (tpfc = 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole). Kinetics of HAT was monitored by gas chromatography. Conversion to the major products anthracene, TsNH 2, and ArI is too fast to be explained by direct HAT from the terminal imido complex TsN=Mn(tpfc), which forms from the reaction of Mn(tpfc) with ArINTs. Steady-state kinetics, isotope effects, and variation of the initial catalyst form (Mn (III)(tpfc) vs TsN=Mn (V)(tpfc)) support a mechanism in which the active catalytic species is an adduct of manganese(III) with the oxidant, (ArINTs)Mn (III)(tpfc). This species was detected by rapid-scan stopped-flow absorption spectroscopy. Kinetic simulations demonstrated the viability of this mechanism in contrast to other proposals.     

Sulfite induced autoxidation of NiII and CoII tetraglycine complexes. Spectrophotometric and rotating ring-disc voltammetric studies

The oxidation of Ni(II) and Co(II) tetraglycine complexes in borate buffer aqueous solution, by dissolved oxygen, is strongly accelerated by sulfite. The formation of Ni(III) and Co(III) complexes with maximum absorbances at 327 and 265 nm, respectively, was followed by spectrophotometric measurements. Ni(III) formation was also characterized by voltammetry at low temperatures, whose anodic and cathodic components were observed in the recorded voltammograms. Spectra and rotating ring-disc voltammograms, recorded at various rotation speed values, showed that the Ni(III) species decomposes. The electrochemical process related to the couple Co(II)/Co(III), in a medium containing tetraglycine, was not reversible. In both Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes the metal ion oxidation in the presence of oxygen and sulfite involves the reduction of some initial Ni(III) or Co(III) by sulfite to produce the SO(3).- radical, which rapidly reacts with dissolved oxygen to produce SO(5).-, which then oxidizes Ni(II) or Co(II).     

Electronic structures of Group 9 metallocorroles with axial ammines

The electronic structures of metallocorroles (tpfc)M(NH(3))(2) and (tfc)M(NH(3))(2) (tpfc is the trianion of 5,10,15-(tris)pentafluorophenylcorrole, tfc is the trianion of 5,10,15-trifluorocorrole, and M = Co, Rh, Ir) have been computed using first principles quantum mechanics [B3LYP flavor of Density Functional Theory (DFT) with Poisson-Boltzmann continuum solvation]. The geometry was optimized for both the neutral systems (formal M(III) oxidation state) and the one-electron oxidized systems (formally M(IV)). As expected, the M(III) systems have a closed shell d(6) configuration; for all three metals, the one-electron oxidation was calculated to occur from a ligand-based orbital (highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of B(1) symmetry). The ground state of the formal M(IV) system has M(III)-Cπ character, indicating that the metal remains d(6), with the hole in the corrole π system. As a result the calculated M(IV/III) reduction potentials are quite similar (0.64, 0.67, and 0.56 V vs SCE for M = Ir, Rh and Co, respectively), whereas the differences would have been large for purely metal-based oxidations. Vertically excited states with substantial metal character are well separated from the ground state in one-electron-oxidized cobalt (0.27 eV) and rhodium (0.24 eV) corroles, but become closer in energy in the iridium (0.15 eV) analogues. The exact splittings depend on the chosen functional and basis set combination and vary by ~0.1 eV.     

Carbohydrates electrocatalytic oxidation using CNT-NiCo-oxide modified electrodes

A new sensor for an amplified electrochemical detection of carbohydrates is proposed, where carbohydrates are oxidized by CNT-NiCo-oxide composite in basic solutions. Cyclic voltammograms of the modified electrode show a stable and well defined redox couple in alkaline media due to the synergy of Ni(II)/Ni(III) system with Co(II)/Co(III). The modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards monosaccharides oxidation at reduced overpotential in alkaline solutions. Six monosaccharides were determined amperometrically at the surface of this modified electrode with high sensitivity over a wide range of concentrations, from 0.02 up to 12.12 mM. Low detection limit of 5 μM for glucose could be obtained.     

Vibrational study on the cobalt binding mode of Carnosine

The Co(II)-l-Carnosine (Carnos) system was investigated at different pH and metal/ligand molar ratios by Raman and IR spectroscopy. Raman spectra present some marker bands yielding information on the ability of the Co(II)/Carnos system to bind molecular oxygen and to identify the metal co-ordination site of the imidazole ring (N_π or N_τ atom) of Carnos.The existence of different oxygenated species is greatly affected by pH and the structure of the predominant complexes depends on the available nitrogen atoms. Under basic conditions, binuclear complexes binding molecular oxygen are the predominant species and two forms (monobridged and dibridged) were identified by the Raman νO-O band (750-850 cm⁻¹).Decreasing pH to 7, the species present in the system are less able to bind oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide and a Co(III) chelate not binding O₂, were formed with a significant conversion of peroxo into superoxo complexes. A slight excess of Carnos does not enhance metal chelation.In slightly acidic conditions, the formation of H₂O₂ and superoxo species is more enhanced than at pH 7 and another Co(III) chelate is probably formed.     

Equilibrium and kinetics studies of reactions of manganese acetate, cobalt acetate, and bromide salts in acetic acid solutions

The oxidation of hydrogen bromide and alkali metal bromide salts to bromine in acetic acid by cobalt(III) acetate has been studied. The oxidation is inhibited by Mn(OAc)(2) and Co(OAc)(2), which lower the bromide concentration through complexation. Stability constants for Co(II)Br(n)() were redetermined in acetic acid containing 0.1% water as a function of temperature. This amount of water lowers the stability constant values as compared to glacial acetic acid. Mn(II)Br(n)() complexes were identified by UV-visible spectroscopy, and the stability constants for Mn(II)Br(n)() were determined by electrochemical methods. The kinetics of HBr oxidation shows that there is a new pathway in the presence of M(II)Br(n)(). Analysis of the concentration dependences shows that CoBr(2) and MnBr(2) are the principal and perhaps sole forms of the divalent metals that react with Co(III) and Mn(III). The interpretation of these data is in terms of this step (M, N = Mn or Co): M(OAc)(3) + N(II)Br(2) + HOAc --> M(OAc)(2) + N(III)Br(2)OAc. The second-order rate constants (L mol(-)(1) s(-)(1)) for different M, N pairs in glacial acetic acid are 4.8 (Co, Co at 40 degrees C), 0.96 (Mn, Co at 20 degrees C), 0.15 (Mn(III).Co(II), Co at 20 degrees C), and 0.07 (Mn, Mn at 20 degrees C). Following that, reductive elimination of the dibromide radical is proposed to occur: N(III)Br(2)OAc + HOAc --> N(OAc)(2) + HBr(2)(*). This finding implicates the dibromide radical as a key intermediate in this chemistry, and indeed in the cobalt-bromide catalyzed autoxidation of methylarenes, for which some form of zerovalent bromine has been identified. The selectivity for CoBr(2) and MnBr(2) is consistent with a pathway that forms this radical rather than bromine atoms which are at a considerably higher Gibbs energy. Mn(OAc)(3) oxidizes PhCH(2)Br, k = 1.3 L mol(-)(1) s(-)(1) at 50.0 degrees C in HOAc.     

CoI- and Co0-bipyridine complexes obtained by reduction of CoBr2bpy: electrochemical behaviour and investigation of their reactions with aromatic halides and vinylic acetates

The electrochemical behaviour of CoBr(2)bpy (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) catalyst precursor in acetonitrile has been studied, revealing its possible reduction into the corresponding Co(I) and Co(0) complexes. These low-valent cobalt species appear to be stable on the time scale of cyclic voltammetry. In the presence of aromatic halides, both complexes undergo oxidative addition, the latter Co(0) species allowing the activation of poorly reactive aromatic chlorides. The arylcobalt(III) and arylcobalt(II) obtained are reduced at the same potential as the original Co(II) and Co(I) complexes, respectively, resulting in the observation of overall ECE mechanisms in both cases. The electrochemical study shows that vinylic acetates competitively react with electrogenerated Co(0) species, leading to a labile complex. Preparative scale electrolyses carried out from solutions containing aromatic halides (ArX), vinyl acetate (vinylOAc) and a catalytic amount of CoBr(2)bpy lead to a mixture of biaryl (Ar-Ar) and arene (ArH) as long as the potential is set on the plateau of the Co(II) right arrow over left arrow Co(I) reduction wave. The coupling product (Ar-vinyl) is formed only if the electrolysis is performed on the plateau of the Co(I)/Co(0) reduction wave. A mechanism is proposed for the overall cobalt-catalyzed coupling reaction between aromatic halides and allylic acetates.     

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of Mn/Co/TiO2 Fischer-Tropsch catalysts: relationships between preparation method, molecular structure, and catalyst performance

The effects of the addition of manganese to a series of TiO(2)-supported cobalt Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalysts prepared by different methods were studied by a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and in situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy at the Co and Mn K-edges. After calcination, the catalysts were generally composed of large Co(3)O(4) clusters in the range 15-35 nm and a MnO(2)-type phase, which existed either dispersed on the TiO(2) surface or covering the Co(3)O(4) particles. Manganese was also found to coexist with the Co(3)O(4) in the form of Co(3-x)Mn(x)O(4) solutions, as revealed by XRD and XAFS. Characterization of the catalysts after H(2) reduction at 350 degrees C by XAFS and TEM showed mostly the formation of very small Co(0) particles (around 2-6 nm), indicating that the cobalt phase tends to redisperse during the reduction process from Co(3)O(4) to Co(0). The presence of manganese was found to hamper the cobalt reducibility, with this effect being more severe when Co(3-x)Mn(x)O(4) solutions were initially present in the catalyst precursors. Moreover, the presence of manganese generally led to the formation of larger cobalt agglomerates ( approximately 8-15 nm) upon reduction, probably as a consequence of the decrease in cobalt reducibility. The XAFS results revealed that all reduced catalysts contained manganese entirely in a Mn(2+) state, and two well-distinguished compounds could be identified: (1) a highly dispersed Ti(2)MnO(4)-type phase located at the TiO(2) surface and (2) a less dispersed MnO phase being in the proximity of the cobalt particles. Furthermore, the MnO was also found to exist partially mixed with a CoO phase in the form of rock-salt Mn(1-x)Co(x)O-type solid solutions. The existence of the later solutions was further confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy with electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) for a Mn-rich sample. Finally, the cobalt active site composition in the catalysts after reduction at 300 and 350 degrees C was linked to the catalytic performances obtained under reaction conditions of 220 degrees C, 1 bar, and H(2)/CO = 2. The catalysts with larger Co(0) particles ( approximately >5 nm) and lower Co reduction extents displayed a higher intrinsic hydrogenation activity and a longer catalyst lifetime. Interestingly, the MnO and Mn(1-x)Co(x)O species effectively promoted these larger Co(0) particles by increasing the C(5+) selectivity and decreasing the CH(4) production, while they did not significantly influence the selectivity of the catalysts containing very small Co(0) particles.     

Tuning of electronic structures of quasi-one-dimensional bromo-bridged Ni(III) complexes with strong electron-correlation by doping of Co(III) ions, [Ni(1-x)Co(x)(Chxn)(2)Br]Br(2)

We have succeeded in synthesizing the Ni(III) complexes doped by Co(III) ions, [Ni(1-x)Co(x)(chxn)(2)Br]Br(2) (x = 0, 0.043, 0.093, and 0.118) by using an electrochemical oxidation method. The single-crystal reflectance spectrum of x = 0.118 shows an intense CT band about 0.5 eV, which is lower than that of [Ni(chxn)(2)Br]Br(2) (1.3 eV). The single-crystal electrical conductivities at room temperature of these compounds increase with increase of the amounts of doping of Co(III) ions. In the ESR spectra, peak-to-peak line widths DeltaH(pp) at room temperature change about 600 G in [Ni(chxn)(2)Br]Br(2) to 200 G in x = 0.118. Such a large x dependence of DeltaH(pp) seems to be ascribed to the increasing contribution from the increasing Curie spins which have smaller line width. Therefore, we have tuned the electronic structures of quasi-one-dimensional bromo-bridged Ni(III) complexes with strong electron correlations by doping of Co(III) ions.     

Electrochemistry of the bis(1,4,7-triazacyclodecane) cobalt(III) complex and its role in the catalytic reduction of hydrogen

The electrochemistry of the bis(1,4,7-triazacyclodecane) cobalt(III) complex at a mercury electrode, HMDE, in aqueous Britton–Robinson buffer solutions was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, double-potential-step chronoamperometry and chronocoulometry. The cyclic voltammetric data were analyzed by digital simulation to confirm and to measure the heterogeneous and homogeneous parameters for the suggested electrode mechanism. Generally, the complex is electrochemically reduced giving rise to two cyclic voltammetric waves. The first wave is a diffusion-controlled reversible wave. It is assigned to the stable Co(III)/Co(II) redox couple. The second one is found to be irreversible and corresponding to a reduction of Co(II) to Co(I) species. The monovalent cobalt, highly unstable, is rapidly protonated, and then forms cobalt hydride. The hydride decomposes to hydrogen molecules and regenerates Co(II) species following a disproportionation pathway. The overall reduction mechanism is concluded to be an EECC kinetics.     

Probing the photoexcited states of rhodium corroles by time-resolved Q-band EPR. Observation of strong spin-orbit coupling effects

The photoexcited states of two 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corroles (tpfc), hosting Rh(III) in their core, namely Rh(pyr)(PPh 3)(tpfc) and Rh(PPh 3)(tpfc), have been studied by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) combined with pulsed laser excitation. Using the transient nutation technique, the spin polarized spectra are assigned to photoexcited triplet states. The spectral widths observed for the two Rh(III) corroles crucially depend on the axial ligands at the Rh(III) metal ion. In case of Rh(PPh 3)(tpfc), the TREPR spectra are found to extend over 200 mT, which exceeds the spectral width of non-transition-metal corroles by more than a factor of 3. Moreover, the EPR lines of the Rh(III) corroles are less symmetric than those of the non-transition-metal corrroles. The peculiarities in the TREPR spectra of the Rh(III) corroles can be rationalized in terms of strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) associated with the transition-metal character of the Rh(III) ion. It is assumed that SOC in the photoexcited Rh(III) corroles effectively admixes metal centered (3)dd-states to the corrole centered (3)pipi*-states detected in the TREPR experiments. This admixture leads to an increased zero-field splitting and a large g-tensor anisotropy as manifested by the excited Rh(III) corroles.     

Effect of the Formation of a Charged Intermediate on the Electroreduction of Cobalt(III) Trioxalate Complexes to Cobalt(0) Atoms

Kinetic relationships for the recharge of a cobalt(III) trioxalate complex on a mercury electrode are derived for electrode potentials of 0 to –1.5 V vs. point of zero charge (PZC) of mercury. This wide range includes high negative potentials at which the recharge of Co(C₂O₄)₃ ^3– and discharge of Co²⁺ occur simultaneously. The contribution of the reaction Co(II)/Co(0) (whose kinetic parameters are known) into the overall reduction of Co(C₂O₄)₃ ^3– to metallic cobalt is calculated. Migration fluxes of species present in solution are shown to be insignificant; hence, these can be neglected in the calculations. Relationships, which permit the determination of a partial polarization curve for the Co(III)/Co(II) recharge from the overall rate of the Co(III)/Co(0) process, are found. A quantitative evidence for the appearance of a secondary current drop at potentials near –0.7 V vs. PZC is obtained. The drop is caused by variations in the outer Helmholtz plane potential because of the commence of discharge of Co²⁺.     

Catalytic oxidation and C–C coupling reactions of new ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes containing PPh<Subscript>3</Subscript> or AsPh<Subscript>3</Subscript> co-ligands

New mononuclear ruthenium(III) Schiff base complexes of the type [RuX₂(EPh₃)(L)] (X = Cl or Br; E = P or As; L = monobasic tridentate Schiff base derived from o-aminophenol or o-aminothiophenol with ethylacetoacetate or ethylbenzoylacetate) have been synthesized. The Schiff base ligands chelate to ruthenium through O, N, and O/S by dissociation of the phenolic proton/thiophenolic proton forming chelate rings. These complexes have been characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetric data of all the complexes showed Ru(III)/Ru(IV) oxidation and Ru(III)/Ru(II) reduction within the range of 0–1.5 V and 0 to −1.5 V with respect to Ag/AgCl, respectively. The complexes were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of alcohols using molecular oxygen at ambient temperature, and also in C–C coupling reactions. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.