Mechanisms of photoinduced protolytic interactions of 2,5-diphenyloxazoleortho-hydroxy derivatives in media of various acidities

The mechanism of photoinduced intra- and intermolecular protolytic interactions ofortho-hydroxy derivatives of 2,5-diphenyloxazole in an aqueous alcohol medium was studied over a wide range of acidity from pH ∼13 toH ₀ of ∼−7. The spectral parameters of protolytic forms and equilibrium constants were obtained, and rate constants for the primary photochemical processes (excited-state intra- and intermolecular proton transfer reactions) were evaluated. It was shown that the spectral characteristics of oxazoleortho-hydroxy derivatives in an acidic medium are formed as a result of competition and interchange of intra- and intermolecular protolytic interactions. The phototautomeric form in strongly acidic solutions was found to be produced by dissociation of the cationic form with the protonated oxazole ring.     

Chromium(III)-isocinchomeronato and quinolinato complexes: kinetic studies in NaOH solutions and effect on 3T3 fibroblast proliferation

The aquation of chromium(III)-isocinchomeronato and quinolinato complexes, mer-[Cr(icaH)₃]⁰ and mer-[Cr(quinH)₃]⁰ (where icaH⁻ and quinH⁻ are N,O-bonded isocinchomeronic and quinolinic acid anion, respectively) was studied in NaOH solutions. The process leads to successive ligand liberation in the fully deprotonated species. The kinetics of the first ligand liberation were studied spectrophotometrically in the visible region. A mechanism is proposed in which the rate of the chelate-ring opening at the Cr–N bond is much faster than the rate of the Cr–O bond breaking. The rate-determining step is described by the rate law: k _obs1 = k _OH(1) + k _O Q ₂ [OH⁻], where k _OH(1) and k _O are rate constants of the first ligand liberation from the hydroxo- and oxo-forms of the intermediate, respectively, and Q ₂ is an equilibrium constant between these two protolytic forms. The first pseudo-first-order rate constants (k _obs1) were calculated using SPECFIT software for an A → B → C reaction pattern. The results are compared with those determined in acidic medium. Kinetics of the second and third ligand liberation were also studied and values of successive pseudo-first-order rate constants (k _obs2, k _obs3) are [OH⁻] independent. Effect of chromium(III)-quinolinato and isocinchomeronato complexes on 3T3 fibroblast proliferation was evaluated. Cytotoxicity of these complexes is low, suggesting they may be promising candidates as novel dietary supplements.     

A study of the aerobic reaction between dopamine and Fe(III) in the presence of S<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript>

The reaction between Fe(III) and dopamine in aqueous solution in the presence of Na₂S₂O₃ was followed through UV–Vis spectroscopy, pH and oxy-reduction potential (Eh) measurements. The formation and quick disappearing of the complex [Fe(III)HL¹⁻]²⁺, HL¹⁻ = monoprotonated dopamine was observed with or without S₂O₃ ²⁻ at pH 3. An unexpected reaction occurs in presence of thiosulfate forming the stable anion complex [Fe(III)(L²⁻)₂]¹⁻, L²⁻ = dopacatecholate (λ = 580 nm) and the auto-increasing of the pH, from 3 to 7. It was proposed that H⁺ and molecular oxygen are consumed by free radical thiosulfate formed during the reaction.     

Pulse radiolysis study of dithio-oxamide in aqueous solutions

The reactions of e⁻ _aq, H-atoms, OH radicals and some one electron oxidants and reductants were studied with dithio-oxamide (DTO) in aqueous solutions using pulse radiolysis technique. The transient species formed by the reaction of e⁻ _aq with DTO at pH 6.8 has an absorption band with λ _max at 380 nm and is reducing in nature. H-atom reaction with DTO at pH 6.8 also produced the same transient species. The semi-reduced species was found to be neutral indicating that the electron adduct gets protonated quickly. However at pH 1, the species produced by H-atom reaction had a different spectrum with λ _max at 360 and 520 nm. Reaction of acetone ketyl radicals and CO₂ ⁻ radicals with DTO at pH 6.8 gave transient spectra which were identical to that obtained by e⁻ _aq reaction. However at pH 1, the spectrum obtained by the reaction of acetone ketyl radicals with DTO was similar to that obtained by H-atom reaction at that pH. The transient species formed by OH radical reaction with DTO in the pH range 1–9.2 also has two absorption maxima at 360 and 520 nm. This spectrum was identical with the spectrum obtained by H-atom reaction at pH 1. This means that all these radicals viz. OH, H-atom and (CH₃)₂COH radicals react with DTO at pH 1 by H-abstraction mechanism. The transient species produced was found to be sensitive to the presence of oxygen. One-electron oxidizing radicals such as Br₂ ^−· and SO₄ ^−· radicals reacted with DTO at neutral pH to give the same species as produced by OH radical reaction having absorption maxima at 360 to 520 nm. At acidic pHs, only Br₂ ^−· and Cl₂ ^−· radicals were able to oxidize DTO to give the same species as produced by OH radical reaction. The semioxidized species is a resonance stabilized species with the electron delocalized over the-N-C-S bond. This species was found to be neutral and non-oxidizing in nature.     

Kinetics of oxidation of pyridoxine by anodically generated manganese(III) in aqueous acetic acid medium

Summary Manganese(III) acetate was prepared by the electrolytic oxidation of Mn(OAc)₂ in aqueous AcOH. The electro-generated manganese(III) species was characterised by spectroscopic and redox potential studies. The kinetics of oxidation of pyridoxine (PRX) by manganese(III) in aqueous AcOH were investigated and is first order with respect to [Mn^III]. The effects of varying [Mn^III], [PRX], added manganese(II), pH and added anions such as AcO⁻, F⁻, Cl⁻ and ClO _inf4 ^sup− and SO _inf4 ^sup2− were studied. The rate decreased slowly with increasing [H⁺] up to 0.2 mol dm⁻³ and increased steeply thereafter. The orders in [PRX] and [Mn^II] were unity and inverse fractional, respectively, in both low and high [H⁺] ranges. The dependence of reaction rate on temperature was studied and activation parameters were computed from Arrhenius and Eyring plots. A mechanism consistent with the observed results is proposed and discussed.     

Chromium(III) complexes with lutidinic acid: kinetic studies in HClO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and NaOH solutions

Chromium(III)-lutidinato complexes of general formula [Cr(lutH) _n (H₂O)_6−2n ]³⁻ⁿ (where lutH⁻ is N,O-bonded lutidinic acid anion) were obtained and characterized in solution. Acid-catalysed aquation of [Cr(lutH)₃]⁰ leads to only one ligand dissociation, whereas base hydrolysis produces chromates(III) as a result of subsequent ligand liberation steps. The kinetics of the first ligand dissociation were studied spectrophotometrically, within the 0.1–1.0 M HClO₄ and 0.4–1.0 M NaOH range. In acidic media, two reaction stages, the chelate-ring opening and the ligand dissociation, were characterized. The dependencies of pseudo-first-order rate constants on [H⁺] are as follows: k _obs1 = k ₁ + k ₋₁/K ₁[H⁺] and k _obs2 = k ₂ K ₂[H⁺]/(1 + K ₂[H⁺]), where k ₁ and k ₂ are the rate constants for the chelate-ring opening and the ligand dissociation, respectively, k ₋₁ is the rate constant for the chelate-ring closure, and K ₁ and K ₂ are the protonation constants of the pyridine nitrogen atom and coordinated 2-carboxylate group in the one-end bonded intermediate, respectively. In alkaline media, the rate constant for the first ligand dissociation depends on [OH⁻]: k _obs1 = k _OH(1) + k _O[OH⁻], where k _OH(1) and k _O are rate constants of the first ligand liberation from the hydroxo- and oxo-forms of the intermediate, respectively, and K ₂ is an equilibrium constant between these two protolytic forms. Kinetic parameters were determined and a mechanism for the first ligand dissociation is proposed. The kinetics of the ligand liberation from [Cr(lut)(OH)₄]³⁻ were also studied and the values of the pseudo-first-order rate constants are [OH⁻] independent.     

Studies on electron transfer reactions: oxidation of phenol and ring-substituted phenols by heteropoly 11-tungstophosphovanadate(V) in aqueous acidic medium

The kinetics of oxidation of phenol and a few ring-substituted phenols by heteropoly 11-tungstophosphovanadate(V), [PV^VW₁₁O₄₀]⁴⁻ (HPA) have been studied spectrophotometrically in aqueous acidic medium containing perchloric acid and also in acetate buffers of several pH values at 25 °C. EPR and optical studies show that HPA is reduced to the one-electron reduced heteropoly blue (HPB) [PV^IVW₁₁O₄₀]⁵⁻. In acetate buffers, the build up and decay of the intermediate biphenoquinone show the generation of phenoxyl radical (ArO^·) in the rate-determining step. At constant pH, the reaction shows simple second-order kinetics with first-order dependence of rate on both [ArOH] and [HPA]. At constant [ArOH], the rate of the reaction increases with increase in pH. The plot of apparent second-order rate constant, k ₂, versus 1/[H⁺] is linear with finite intercept. This shows that both the undissociated phenol (ArOH) and the phenoxide ion (ArO⁻) are the reactive species. The ArO⁻–HPA reaction is the dominant pathway in acetate buffer and it proceeds through the OH⁻ ion triggered sequential proton transfer followed by electron transfer (PT-ET) mechanism. The rate constant for ArO⁻–HPA reaction, calculated using Marcus theory, agrees fairly well with the experimental value. The reactivity of substituted phenoxide ions correlates with the Hammett σ⁺ constants, and ρ value was found to be −4.8. In acidic medium, ArOH is the reactive species. Retardation of rate for the oxidation of C₆H₅OD in D₂O indicates breaking of the O–H bond in the rate-limiting step. The results of kinetic studies show that the HPA-ArOH reaction proceeds through a concerted proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism in which water acts as proton acceptor (separated-CPET).     

Complexation and Precipitation of Arsenate and Iron Species in Sodium Perchlorate Solutions at 25∘C

The complexation of As(V) in aqueous solutions in the presence of iron(III) was investigated spectrophotometrically with both variable and constant ionic strengths. The determined thermodynamic and stoichiometric formation constants of the FeHAsO₄⁺ species are log₁₀^∘β = 9.21± 0.01 and log₁₀^Iβ (1.0mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄) = 7.78 ± 0.01, respectively. The numerical treatment of the obtained spectral data was performed with the SPECA program. The analysis required the consideration of the hydrolysis of Fe(III) and the protonation of As(V) in the pH range studied. No significant hydrolysis was observed because of the low pH values (pH < 2.5) involved. The stabilities of the solid Fe(III) arsenates was established by solubility experiments. All of the solubility experiments were performed in aqueous NaClO₄ solutions at constant ionic strength (1.0mol⋅dm⁻³) and at 25^∘C. The experimental data were consistent with FeAsO₄⋅2H₂O being the solid phase (log₁₀ ^∘ K_so = −24.30± 0.08). The corresponding thermodynamic constants were computed by means of the Modified Bromley's Methodology (MBM) that describes the variation of the activity coefficients of all of the ions involved in the complexation and precipitation equilibria with the medium and ionic strength. Finally, the solid phase obtained in this work was also characterized by FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies, and the hydration of the solid iron arsenate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction data.     

Comparison of the sorption properties of crystalline and amorphous samarium(III) oxohydroxides

The influence of the pH of precipitation (pH₁) and the ionic medium on the sorption properties of as-precipitated samarium(III) oxohydroxides,i.e., the pH of zero charge point and the rate of heterogeneous hydrolysis of the IrCl₆ ²⁻, RhCl₆ ³⁻, and PtCl₄ ²⁻ complexes, was studied. The composition of precipitates was studied by the drop titration of solutions of samarium nitrate and thermography. It was found that as-predipitated samarium oxohydroxides are amorphous and the substitution of NO₃ ⁻ ions by OH⁻ is not complete even at pH₁ 11. Heterogeneous hydrolysis occurs on the surface of samarium oxohydroxide, and its rate increases with increasing pH₁. The as-precipitated samarium oxohydroxides have much higher sorption activities than crystalline Sm₂O₃, and their activities are similar to those of ferrogels. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 583–588, April, 1998.     

Intermediate and ion-pair formation in the outer-sphere reactions between azido-pentacyanocobaltate(III) and iron(II) polypyridyl complexes in aqueous medium

The kinetics of the reactions between azido-pentacyanocobaltate(III), Co(CN)₅N₃ ³⁻, and iron(II) polypyridyl complexes, Fe(LL)₃ ²⁺ (LL = bipy, phen), have been studied in both neutral and acidic aqueous solutions at I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³ NaCl. The reactions were carried out under pseudo-first-order conditions in which the concentration of Fe(LL)₃ ²⁺ was kept constant, and the second-order rate constants obtained for the reactions at 35 °C were within the range of 0.156–0.219 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ for LL = bipy and 0.090–0.118 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ for LL = phen. Activation parameters were measured for these systems. The dependence of reaction rates on acid was studied in the range [H⁺] = 0.001–0.008 mol dm⁻³. The reaction in acid medium shows interesting kinetics. Two reactive species were identified in acid medium, namely, the protonated cobalt complex and the azido-bridged binuclear complex. The electron-transfer process is proposed to go by mixed outer- and inner-sphere mechanisms in acid medium, in which electron transfer through the bridged inner-sphere complex (k ₅) is slower than through the outer-sphere path (k ₄). Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Oxidation of Fursemide by Diperiodatocuprate(III) in Aqueous Alkaline Medium—a Kinetic Study

Fursemide is the chemical compound 4-chloro-2-(furan-2-ylmethylamino)-5-(aminosulfonyl) benzoic acid. It was oxidized by diperiodatocuprate(III) in alkali solutions, and the oxidation products were identified as furfuraldehyde and 2-amino-4-chloro-5-(aminosulfonyl) benzoic acid. The reaction kinetics were studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction was observed to be first order in [oxidant] and fractional order each in [fursemide] and [periodate], whereas added alkali retarded the rate of reaction. The reactive form of the oxidant was inferred to be [Cu(H₃IO₆)₂]⁻. A mechanism consistent with the experimental results was proposed, in which oxidant interacts with the substrate to give a complex as a pre-equilibrium state. This complex decomposed in a slow step to give a free radical that was further oxidized by reaction with another molecule of DPC to yield 2-amino-4-chloro-5-(aminosulfonyl) benzoic acid and furfuraldehyde in a fast step. This reaction was studied at 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 °C, and the activation parameters E _a,ΔH ^#,ΔS ^# and ΔG ^# were determined to be 51 kJ⋅mol⁻¹,48.5 kJ⋅mol⁻¹,−63.5 J⋅K⁻¹⋅mol⁻¹ and 67 kJ⋅mol⁻¹, respectively. The value of log ₁₀ A was calculated to be 6.8.     

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the formation of bis(dicarboxylato)carbonatochromate(III) complexes

The reaction of the Cr(xx)₂(H₂O)₂ ⁻ (xx = oxalate, malonate and methylmalonate) complexes with dissolved CO₂ was studied by stopped-flow spectrophotometry in the 7 < pH < 9 range and between 20 to 30°C at an ionic strength of 0.5 mol dm⁻³ (NaCl). Under the experimental conditions the aqua complex ion consists of a pH-dependent mixture of Cr(xx)₂(H₂O)₂ ⁻, Cr(xx)₂(OH) (H₂O)²⁻ and Cr(xx)₂(OH)₂ ³⁻. The monohydroxo and dihydroxo species undergo CO₂ uptake and subsequent intramolecular carbonate ligand chelation independently, at rates which are readily distinguishable and are governed by the uptake rate constants k ₁ and k ₂ and chelation rate constants k ₃ and k ₄, respectively. Only the k ₁ values for oxalato, malonato and methylmalonato complexes could be calculated; k ₁ = 1084 and 1333 and 1650 mol⁻¹ dm³ s⁻¹, respectively. The results obtained were compared with those obtained from other systems that have either cobalt(III), iridium(III) or rhodium(III) as central atoms. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic study of the promazine oxidation to promazine 5-oxide by trisoxalatocobaltate(III) in basic aqueous media

The kinetics of the oxidation of promazine by trisoxalatocobaltate(III) were studied in the presence of a large excess of the cobalt(III) in tris buffer solution using u.v.–vis spectroscopy ([Co^III] = (0.6 − 2) × 10⁻³ M, [ptz] = 6 × 10⁻⁵ M, pH = 6.6–7.8, I = 0.1 M (NaCl), T = 288−308 K, l = 1 cm). The reaction proceeds via two consecutive reversible steps. In the first step, the reaction leads to formation of cobalt(II) species and a stable cationic radical. In the second step, cobalt(III) is reduced to cobalt(II) ion and a promazine radical is oxidized to the promazine 5-oxide. Linear dependences of the pseudo-first-order rate constants (k ₁ and k ₂) on [Co^III] with a non-zero intercept were established for both redox processes. Rates of reactions decreased with increasing concentration of the H⁺ ion indicating that the promazine and its radical exist in equilibrium with their deprotonated forms, which are reactive reducing species. The activation parameters for reactions studied were as follows: ΔH^≠ = 44 ± 1 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = −100 ± 4 JK⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the first step and ΔH^≠ = 25 ± 1 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = −169 ± 4 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the second step, respectively. Mechanistic consequences of all the results are discussed.     

Liquid–liquid extraction of scandium with nalidixic acid in dichloromethane

The extraction behavior of nalidixic acid (HNA) in CH₂Cl₂ has been studied for various di- and trivalent metal ions such as Cu(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Sb(II), Co(II), Sc(III), Y(III), Nd(III) and Eu(III) from aqueous buffer solutions of pH 1–7 with 0.1 mol dm⁻³ nalidixic acid in dichloromethane. Separation factors of Sc(III) from these metals has shown that its clean separation is possible at pH 3.4–4. The parameters affecting the extraction of Sc(III) were optimized. The composition of the extracted adduct was determined by slope analysis method that came out to be Sc(NA)₃. Extraction of Sc(III) was studied in the presence of various cations and anions. Among the anions studied only fluoride, citrate and oxalate have significant interference whereas, Fe(III) has reduced the extraction to 53% that can be removed by using ascorbic acid as reducing agent. The proposed extraction system proved good stability up to six extraction-stripping stages for the extraction of Sc(III).     

Kinetics of the heterobimetallic complexes formation in the reactions between chromium(III) macrocyclic species and [Fe(CN)<Subscript>6</Subscript>]<Superscript>4−</Superscript> ions

Formation of a singly bridged heterobimetallic Cr^III–NC–Fe^II anation product of the cis − [Cr(cycb)(H₂O)₂]³⁺ and trans − [Cr(cyca)(H₂O)₂]³⁺ complexes, where cyca and cycb are meso- and rac-5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane respectively, by [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ ions is accompanied by an intensive absorbance increase within 390–470 nm due to an intermetal electron transition. A bell-shape of the pseudo-first order rate constants/pH profile observed for the reactions which have been studied under a large excess of the iron(II) complex is in accordance with the highest reactivity of the chromium(III) complexes in their monohydroxomonoaqua forms. The reaction mechanism has been discussed based on the determined rate law.     

The extraction of Cr(III) from aqueous thiocyanate solutions and its separation from Co(II) and Ni(II)

For the system liquid anion-exchanger—Cr(III)−NCS⁻, an investigation has been made of the dependence of the percentage extraction of Cr(III) on parameters such as standing time of the Cr(III)−NCS⁻ solution, temperature, pH and type of exchanger. Quantitative extraction of e.g. 4·10⁻⁴ M Cr(III) by 0.1M Aliquat in CCl₄ is easily achieved at room temperature, using 4.75M KNCS−0.05N HCl as aqueous phase. At high Cr(III) concentrations, the complex anion present in the organic phase is Cr(NCS) ₆ ³⁻ ; when working with dilute metal ion solutions, the species extracted is Cr(NCS)₄ (H₂O) ₂ ⁻ . Separations of mixtures containing 10⁻²−10⁻⁴ M Co(II), Ni(II) and Cr(III) have successfully been accomplished.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation ofbis(2,4,6-tripyridyl-1,3,5-triazine)iron(II) bytrans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetatomanganate(III) in acetate buffer

The rapid oxidation ofbis(2,4,6-tripyridyl-1,3,5-triazine)-iron(II), [Fe(TPTZ)₂]²⁺, bytrans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetatomanganate(III), [Mn^III(Y)]⁻, in acetate buffers was monitored using stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The reaction is first order in the substrate and evidence was obtained for pre-complexation between the oxidant and the substrate. The reaction rate increases as the pH increases. Characterisation of the products using the radiotracers⁵⁴Mn and⁵⁹Fe indicated that [Mn^II(Y)]²⁻ and [Fe(TPTZ)₂]³⁺ are the final products. The reaction obeys the rate law:

A kinetic investigation of the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">dl</Emphasis>-pipecolinate by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion

Kinetics of oxidation of dl-pipecolinate by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion, [Ag(HIO₆)₂]⁵⁻, has been studied in aqueous alkaline medium in the temperature range of 25–40 °C. The oxidation kinetics is first order in the silver(III) and pipecolinate concentrations. The observed second-order rate constant, decreasing with increasing [periodate] is virtually independent of [OH⁻]. α-Aminoadipate as the major oxidation product of pipecolinate has been identified by chromatographic analysis. A reaction mechanism is proposed that involves a pre-equilibrium between [Ag(HIO₆)₂]⁵⁻ and [Ag(HIO₆)(H₂O)(OH)]²⁻, a mono-periodate coordinated silver(III) complex. Both Ag(III) complexes are reduced in parallel by pipecolinate in rate-determining steps (described by k ₁ for the former Ag(III) species and k ₂ for the latter). The determined rate constants and their associated activation parameters are k ₁ (25 °C) = 0.40 ± 0.02 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, ∆H ₁^≠ = 53 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹, ∆S ₁^≠ = −74 ± 5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and k ₂ (25 °C) = 0.64 ± 0.02 M⁻¹ s⁻¹, ∆H ₂^≠ = 41 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹, ∆S ₂^≠ = −110 ± 5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. The time-resolved spectra, a positive dependence of the rate constants on ionic strength of the reaction medium, and the consistency of pre-equilibrium constants derived from different reaction systems support the proposed reaction mechanism.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the formation of (1,8)bis(2-hydroxybenzamido)3,6-diazaoctaneiron(III) and its reactions with thiocyanate, azide, acetate, sulfur(IV) and ascorbic acid in solution, and the synthesis and characterization of a novel oxo bridged diiron(III) complex. The role of phenol–amide–amine coordination

The interaction of (1,8)bis(2-hydroxybenzamido)3,6-diazaoctane (LH₂) with iron(III) in acidic medium resulted in the formation of a mononuclear complex, Fe(LH₃)⁴⁺ which further yielded, [Fe(LH₂)]³⁺, [Fe(LH)]²⁺, and [FeL]⁺ due to protolytic equilibria. The formation of [Fe(LH₃)]⁴⁺ was investigated under varying [H⁺]_T (0.01–0.10 mol dm⁻³) and [Fe³⁺]_T (1.00 × 10⁻³–1.70 × 10⁻², [L]_T = 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³) (I = 0.3 mol dm⁻³, 10% MeOH + H₂O, 25.0 °C). The reaction was reversible and displayed monophasic kinetics; the dominant path involved Fe(OH)(OH₂) ₅ ²⁺ and LH ₄ ²⁺ . The mechanism is essentially a dissociative interchange (I _d) and the dissociation of the aqua ligand from the encounter complex, [Fe(OH₂)₅OH²⁺, H₄L²⁺] is rate limiting. The ligand binds iron(III) in a bidentate ([Fe(H₃L)]⁴⁺), tetradentate ([Fe(H₂L)]³⁺), pentadentate ([Fe(HL)]²⁺) and hexadentate fashion ([FeL]⁺) under varying pH conditions. Iron(III) promoted deprotonation of the amide and phenol moieties and chelation driven deprotonation of the sec-NH ₂ ⁺ of the trien spacer unit are in tune with the above proposition. The mixed ligand complexes, [Fe^III(LH)(X)] (X = N ₃ ⁻ , NCS⁻, ACO⁻) are also reversibly formed in solution thus indicating that there is a replaceable aqua ligand in the complex conforming to its octahedral coordination, [Fe(LH)(OH₂)]²⁺, the bound ligand is protonated at the sec-NH site. Despite the multidentate nature of the ligand the Fe^III complexes are prone to reduction by sulfur(IV) and ascorbic acid. The redox reactions of different iron(III) species, Fe^III(LH_i) which involved ternary complex formation with the reductants have been investigated kinetically as a function of pH, [S^IV]_T and [ascorbic acid]_T. The substantial pK perturbation of the bound ascorbate in [Fe(LH)(HAsc/Asc)]^+/0 (ΔpK _{{[Fe(LH)(HAsc)] − HAsc − }} > 6) is considered to be compelling evidence for chelation of HAsc⁻/Asc²⁻ leading to hepta coordination of iron(III) in the ascorbate complexes. A novel binuclear complex with composition, [Fe^III ₂C₂₀N₄H₃₅O₁₁ (NO₃)] has been synthesized and characterized by i.r., u.v.–vis, e.s.r., e.s.i.-Mass, ⁵⁷Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetic moment measurements. The complex was isolated as a mixture of two forms C ₁ and C ₂ with 75.3 and 24.7%, respectively as computed from Mossbauer data. The isomer shift (δ) (quadrupole splitting, ΔE _Q) are 0.32 mm s⁻¹ (0.75 mm s⁻¹) and 0.19 mm s⁻¹ (0.68 mm s⁻¹) for C ₁ and C ₂, respectively. The variable temperature magnetic moment measurements (10–300 K) of the sample showed that C ₁ is an oxo dimer exhibiting antiferromagnetic interaction between the iron(III) atoms (S ₁ = S ₂ = 5/2, J = − 120 cm⁻¹) while the dimer C ₂ is a high spin species (S ₁ = S ₂ = 5/2) and exhibits normal paramagnetism obeying the Curie law. The cyclic voltametry response of the sample (DMF, [TEAP] = 0.1 mol dm⁻³) displayed quasi-reversible responses at − 0.577 V and − 1.451 V (versus SCE). This is in tune with the fact that the C ₂ species reverts rapidly in solution to the relatively more stable oxo-bridged dimer (C ₁) which is reduced in two sequential steps: C₁ + e⁻ → [FeL]⁺ + Fe^II; [FeL]⁺ + e⁻ → Fe^IIL, the high labilility of the Fe^II complex is attributed to the irreversibility. The X-band e.s.r. spectrum of the polycrystalline sample at room temperature displayed a weak (unresolved) band at g = 4.2 and a strong band at g = 2.0 with hyperfine splitting due to the coordinated nitrogen (I = 1). At 77 K the band at g = 4.2 is intensified while that at g = 2 is broadened to the extent of near disappearance in agreement with the presence of the exchange coupled iron(III) centres. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users. An erratum to this article is available at .