Mechanism of photolysis of peroxy complexes of titanium(IV)

Conditions were found under which radical pairs become stabilized during the photolysis of peroxy complexes of titanium(IV) in alcoholic solutions. It was shown that precursors are dimeric complexes of titanium(IV) comprising peripheral peroxy ligands as well as a peroxy bridge. Irradiation by light corresponding to the peroxy ligand — the central ion charge transfer bands, leads to the initiation of an intraspheric reaction, as a result of which two peripheral peroxy ligands undergo a one-electron oxidation, while the bridge undergoes a two-electron reduction. The radical particles (HO₂ ^. and O₂ ) formed from the peripheral peroxy ligands become stabilized at strictly delineated distances relative to one another, which are determined by the structure of the initial dimeric peroxy complex of titanium(IV).Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 678–685, November–December, 1988.