Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of a ternary complex involving dipicolinatochromium(III) and DL‐aspartic acid by N‐bromosuccinimide

The kinetics of oxidation of Cr^III(Dpc)(Asp)(H₂O)₂] (Dpc = dipicolinic acid and Asp = DL ‐aspartic acid) by N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) in aqueous solution have been found to obey the equation: where k₂ is the rate constant for the electron transfer process, K₁ is the equilibrium constant for deprotonation of Cr^III(Dpc)(Asp)(H₂O)₂], K₂ and K₃ are the pre‐equilibrium formation constants of precursor complexes Cr^III(Dpc)(Asp)(H₂O)(NBS)] and Cr^III(Dpc)(Asp)(H₂O)(OH)(NBS)]^?. Values of k₂ = 4.85 × 10^?2 s^?1, K₁ = 1.85 × 10^?7 mol dm^?3, and K₂ = 78.2 mol^?1 dm³ have been obtained at 30°C and I = 0.1 mol dm^?3. The experimental rate law is consistent with a mechanism in which the deprotonated Cr^III(Dpc)(Asp)(H₂O)(OH)]^? is considered to be the most reactive species compared to its conjugate acid. It is assumed that electron transfer takes place via an inner‐sphere mechanism. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 394–400, 2004