Electron transfer. 153. Internal electron transfer to bound cobalt(III) induced by hydroxyl radical

Hydroxyl radicals, generated in aqueous solution from Fe²⁺ and H₂O₂, react with the formato, glycolato, lactato and mandelato complexes of (NH₃)₅Co^III, extracting H·, releasing CO₂ and inducing the internal reduction of Co^III to Co²⁺; decomposition of peroxynitrous acid (O=N—OOH) in the presence of these complexes also yields Co²⁺, indicating partial utilization (15% at 22°C and pH 1) of a path involving OH·.