Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of substituted benzyl bromides with copper in dimethylformamide

The reaction of copper metal with various substituted benzyl bromides in dimethylformamide has been studied and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the reaction have been obtained. Hammett plots of log(k/k°) vs the substituent constant σ gave good correlations (ρ = 0.24, S_ρ = 0.03, r = 0.951). The structure of the organic group has little effect on the rate of reaction of substituted benzyl bromides with copper. In the absence of atmospheric oxygen, oxidative dissolution of copper occurred by the mechanism of single‐electron transfer with the formation of 1,2‐diphenylethanes and copper(I) complexes. The stereochemistry and intermediate compound were also studied and the reaction mechanism is discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics of reaction of copper with substituted benzyl chlorides in dipolar aprotic solvents

The reaction of copper with benzyl chlorides in dipolar aprotic solvents has been investigated. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the reaction of copper with benzyl chloride in dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, and hexamethylphosphoramide have been obtained. Hammett plots of log (k/k°) versus the substituent constant σ gave good correlation. The structure of the organic group has little effect on the rate of reaction of benzyl chloride with copper. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were correlated with donor number of solvent (DN). The ratio k_RBr/k_RCl and Hammett ρ values provide evidence in favor of the halogen atom transfer mechanism. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 547–555, 2007     

The kinetics of reaction of copper with substituted benzyl bromides in dipolar aprotic solvents

The reaction of copper with benzyl bromides in dipolar aprotic solvents has been studied. There are no linear or other simple relations between ε, 1/ε, Y, P, n, and the rate of reaction. The activity of the solvent is determined by donor number (DN) in reaction under consideration. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the reaction of copper with benzyl bromide in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been clarified. Hammett plots of log (k/k°) vs. the substituent constant σ gave good correlations (ρ = 0.18, S_ρ = 0.02, r = 0.961 in dimethyl sulfoxide and ρ = 0.21, S_ρ = 0.02, r = 0.947 in dimethylacetamide (DMAA)). The structure of the organic group has little effect on the rate of reaction of benzyl bromide with copper. The Hammett ρ value also depends on DN. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 496–501, 2005     

A Molecular Copper Catalyst for Electrochemical Water Reduction with a Large Hydrogen‐Generation Rate Constant in Aqueous Solution

The copper complex [(bztpen)Cu](BF₄)₂ (bztpen=N‐benzyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethylenediamine) displays high catalytic activity for electrochemical proton reduction in acidic aqueous solutions, with a calculated hydrogen‐generation rate constant (k_obs) of over 10000 s^?1. A turnover frequency (TOF) of 7000 h^?1 cm^?2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 96 % were obtained from a controlled potential electrolysis (CPE) experiment with [(bztpen)Cu]²⁺ in pH 2.5 buffer solution at ?0.90 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) over two hours using a glassy carbon electrode. A mechanism involving two proton‐coupled reduction steps was proposed for the dihydrogen generation reaction catalyzed by [(bztpen)Cu]²⁺.     

Micellar and salt effects on the interaction of [Cu(II)‐Gly‐Gly]+ with ninhydrin

The effect of cationic micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on the kinetics of interaction of copper dipeptide complex [Cu(II)‐Gly‐Gly]⁺ with ninhydrin has been studied spectrophotometrically at 70°C and pH 5.0. The reaction follows first‐ and fractional‐order kinetics, respectively, in complex and ninhydrin. The reaction is catalyzed by CTAB micelles, and the maximum rate enhancement is about twofold. The results obtained in the micellar medium are treated quantitatively in terms of the kinetic pseudophase and Piszkiewicz models. The rate constants (k_obs or k_Ψ), micellar‐binding constants (k_S for [Cu(II)‐Gly‐Gly]⁺, k_N for ninhydrin), and index of cooperativity (n) have been evaluated. A mechanism is proposed in accordance with the experimental results. The influence of different inorganic (NaCl, NaBr, Na₂SO₄) and organic (NaBenz, NaSal) salts on the reaction rate has also been seen, and it is found that tightly bound/incorporated counterions are the most effective. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 556–564, 2007     

Influence of Cu(II) Ions on the Mechanism of the Ring Transformation of S‐(2‐Oxotetrahydrofuran‐3‐yl)‐N‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)isothiouronium Bromide

The effect of additional Cu(II) ions on the rate of transformation of S‐(2‐oxotetrahydrofuran‐3‐yl)‐N‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)isothiouronium bromide ( 1 ) into 5‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐2‐[(4‐methoxyphenyl)imino]‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐one ( 2 ) has been studied in aqueous buffer solutions. The reaction acceleration in acetate buffers is caused by the formation of a relatively weakly bonded complex (K_c = 600 L·mol^?1) of substrate with copper(II) acetate in which the Cu(II) ion acts as a Lewis acid coordinating the carbonyl oxygen and facilitating the intramolecular attack, leading to the formation of intermediate T^±. The formation of the complex of copper(II) acetate with free isothiourea in the fast preequilibrium (K_c) is followed by the rate‐limiting transformation (k_Cu) of this complex. At the high concentrations of the acetate anions, the reaction is retarded by the competitive reaction of these ions with copper(II) acetate to give an unreactive complex [Cu(OAc)₄]^2?_. The influence of Cu(II) ions on the stability of reaction intermediates and the leaving group ability of the alkoxide‐leaving group compared to the Cu(II)‐uncatalyzed reaction is also discussed.     

Aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones using ruthenium(III)/Et3N catalyst

A simple, efficient method for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones has been developed. Using RuCl₃/Et₃N as catalyst, the oxidation of benzyl alcohol with oxygen could be achieved with 332 h⁻¹ turnover frequency in the absence of solvent. The influence of versatile N‐containing additives on the catalytic efficiency has been discussed. The presence of minor water would substantially promote the catalytic efficiency, and its role in catalysis has been investigated in detail. The insensitive Hammett correlations of the substituted benzyl alcohols, the normal substrate isotope effect (k_H/k_D = 3.5 at 335 K), and the linear relationship between O₂ pressure and turnover frequency imply that the reoxidation of the Ru(III) hydride intermediate to the active species shares the rate‐determining step with the hydride transfer in the catalytic cycle. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Steric factors in the gas phase elimination kinetics of ethyl N‐benzyl‐N‐cyclopropylcarbamate and ethyl diphenylcarbamate

The elimination kinetics of ethyl N‐benzyl‐N‐cyclopropylcarbamate and ethyl diphenylcarbamate were investigated over the temperature range of 349.9–440.0°C and the pressure range of 31–106 Torr. These reactions have been found to be homogeneous, unimolecular, and obey a first‐order rate law. The products are ethylene, carbon monoxide, and the corresponding secondary amine. The rate coefficient is expressed by the following Arrhenius equations: For ethyl N‐benzyl‐N‐cyclopropylcarbamate log k₁ (s^?1) = (12.94 ± 0.09) ? (198.5 ± 0.9) kJ mol^?1 (2.303RT)^?1 For ethyl diphenylcarbamate log k₁ (s^?1) = (12.91 ± 0.18) ? (208.2 ± 2.4) kJ mol^?1 (2.303RT)^?1 The presence of phenyl and bulky groups at the nitrogen atom of the ethylcarbamate showed a decrease in the rate of elimination. Steric factor may be operating during the process of decomposition of these substrates. These reactions appear to undergo a semipolar six‐membered cyclic transition type of mechanism.© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 67–71, 2002     

Solute–solvent interaction effects on second‐order rate constants of reaction between 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and aniline in alcohol–water mixtures

The second‐order rate coefficients for aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction between 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and aniline have been measured in aqueous solutions of ethanol and methanol at 25°C. The plots of rate constants versus mole fraction of water show a maximum in all‐aqueous solutions. The effect of four empirical solvent parameters including hydrogen bond donor acidity (α) dipolarity/polarizability (π^*) normalized polarity (E^N_T) and solvophobicity (Sp) has been investigated. This investigation has been carried out by means of simple and multiple regression models. A dual‐parameter equation of log k₂ versus Sp and α was obtained in all‐aqueous solutions (n = 41, r = 0.962, s = 0.053, p = 0.0000). This equation shows that solvophobicity and hydrogen bond donor acidity are important factors in the occurrence of the reaction and they have opposite effects on reaction rate. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 90–97, 2005     

Selective Alcohol Oxidation by a Copper TEMPO Catalyst: Mechanistic Insights by Simultaneously Coupled Operando EPR/UV‐Vis/ATR‐IR Spectroscopy

The first coupled operando EPR/UV‐Vis/ATR‐IR spectroscopy setup for mechanistic studies of gas‐liquid phase reactions is presented and exemplarily applied to the well‐known copper/TEMPO‐catalyzed (TEMPO=(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl) oxidation of benzyl alcohol. In contrast to previous proposals, no direct redox reaction between TEMPO and Cu^I/Cu^II has been detected. Instead, the role of TEMPO is postulated to be the stabilization of a (bpy)(NMI)Cu^II‐O₂^??‐TEMPO (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, NMI=N‐methylimidazole) intermediate formed by electron transfer from Cu^I to molecular O₂.     

The Reaction of Sulfenic Acids with Peroxyl Radicals: Insights into the Radical‐Trapping Antioxidant Activity of Plant‐Derived Thiosulfinates

Sulfenic acids play a prominent role in biology as key participants in cellular signaling relating to redox homeostasis, in the formation of protein‐disulfide linkages, and as the central players in the fascinating organosulfur chemistry of the Allium species (e.g., garlic). Despite their relevance, direct measurements of their reaction kinetics have proven difficult owing to their high reactivity. Herein, we describe the results of hydrocarbon autoxidations inhibited by the persistent 9‐triptycenesulfenic acid, which yields a second order rate constant of 3.0×10⁶ M ^?1 s^?1 for its reaction with peroxyl radicals in PhCl at 30 °C. This rate constant drops 19‐fold in CH₃CN, and is subject to a significant primary deuterium kinetic isotope effect, k_H/k_D=6.1, supporting a formal H‐atom transfer (HAT) mechanism. Analogous autoxidations inhibited by the Allium‐derived (S)‐benzyl phenylmethanethiosulfinate and a corresponding deuterium‐labeled derivative unequivocally demonstrate the role of sulfenic acids in the radical‐trapping antioxidant activity of thiosulfinates, through the rate‐determining Cope elimination of phenylmethanesulfenic acid (k_H/k_D≈4.5) and its subsequent formal HAT reaction with peroxyl radicals (k_H/k_D≈3.5). The rate constant that we derived from these experiments for the reaction of phenylmethanesulfenic acid with peroxyl radicals was 2.8×10⁷ M ^?1 s^?1; a value 10‐fold larger than that we measured for the reaction of 9‐triptycenesulfenic acid with peroxyl radicals. We propose that whereas phenylmethanesulfenic acid can adopt the optimal syn geometry for a 5‐centre proton‐coupled electron‐transfer reaction with a peroxyl radical, the 9‐triptycenesulfenic is too sterically hindered, and undergoes the reaction instead through the less‐energetically favorable anti geometry, which is reminiscent of a conventional HAT.     

Ag(I)‐Catalyzed Chlorination of Linezolid during Water Treatment: Kinetics and Mechanism

The kinetic and mechanistic study of Ag(I)‐catalyzed chlorination of linezolid (LNZ) by free available chlorine (FAC) was investigated at environmentally relevant pH 4.0–9.0. Apparent second‐order rate constants decreased with an increase in pH of the reaction mixture. The apparent second‐order rate constant for uncatalyzed reaction, e.g., k″_app = 8.15 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 4.0 and k″_app. = 0.076 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 9.0 and 25 ± 0.2°C and for Ag(I) catalyzed reaction total apparent second‐order rate constant, e.g., k″_app = 51.50 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 4.0 and k″_app. = 1.03 dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at pH 9.0 and 25 ± 0.2°C. The Ag(I) catalyst accelerates the reaction of LNZ with FAC by 10‐fold. A mechanism involving electrophilic halogenation has been proposed based on the kinetic data and LC/ESI/MS spectra. The influence of temperature on the rate of reaction was studied; the rate constants were found to increase with an increase in temperature. The thermodynamic activation parameters E_a, ΔH^#, ΔS^#, and ΔG^# were evaluated for the reaction and discussed. The influence of catalyst, initially added product, dielectric constant, and ionic strength on the rate of reaction was also investigated. The monochlorinated substituted product along with degraded one was formed by the reaction of LNZ with FAC.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of the drug mephenesin by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion

Mephenesin is being used as a central‐acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Oxidation of mephenesin by bis(hydrogenperiodato)argentate(III) complex anion, [Ag(HIO₆)₂]^5?, has been studied in aqueous alkaline medium. The major oxidation product of mephenesin has been identified as 3‐(2‐methylphenoxy)‐2‐ketone‐1‐propanol by mass spectrometry. An overall second‐order kinetics has been observed with first order in [Ag(III)] and [mephenesin]. The effects of [OH^?] and periodate concentration on the observed second‐order rate constants k′ have been analyzed, and accordingly an empirical expression has been deduced: k′ = (k_a + k_b[OH^?])K₁/{f([OH^?])[IO^?₄]_tot + K₁}, where [IO^?₄]_tot denotes the total concentration of periodate, k_a = (1.35 ± 0.14) × 10^?2M^?1s^?1 and k_b = 1.06 ± 0.01 M^?2s^?1 at 25.0°C, and ionic strength 0.30 M. Activation parameters associated with k_a and k_b have been calculated. A mechanism has been proposed to involve two pre‐equilibria, leading to formation of a periodato‐Ag(III)‐mephenesin complex. In the subsequent rate‐determining steps, this complex undergoes inner‐sphere electron transfer from the coordinated drug to the metal center by two paths: one path is independent of OH^? whereas the other is facilitated by a hydroxide ion. In the appendix, detailed discussion on the structure of the Ag(III) complex, reactive species, as well as pre‐equilibrium regarding the oxidant is provided. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 440–446, 2007     

Kinetics and thermochemistry of the reaction of benzyl radical with O2: Investigations by discharge flow/laser induced fluorescence between 393 and 433 K

The kinetics of the reaction of the benzyl radical with molecular oxygen has been studied between 393 and 433 K. The Discharge Flow technique with detection of benzyl radicals by Laser Induced Fluorescence in their visible absorption band has been used. All experiments have been performed at ≈1 torr in helium as the buffer gas. The radical benzyl decay plots are characteristic of the approach to equilibrium between benzyl and benzylperoxy: benzyl + O₂ $ \mathbin{\lower.3ex\hbox{$\buildrel\textstyle\longrightarrow\over {\smash{\longleftarrow}\vphantom{_{\vbox to.5ex{\vss}}}}$}} $ benzylperoxy (k₃, k_?3). Thanks to a reasonable assumption concerning the standard entropy of the reaction (3) (ΔS₂₉₈°=?29 cal mol^?1 K^?1), based on the additivity rules of Benson, the following reaction enthalpy is derived for reaction (3): ΔH₂₉₈°=(?20 ± 1 kcal mol^?1). This latter value is compared with a few enthalpies of other related reactions available in the literature. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The elimination kinetics and mechanisms of ethyl piperidine‐3‐carboxylate,ethyl 1‐methylpiperidine‐3‐carboxylate,and ethyl 3‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)propionate in the gas phase

The gas‐phase elimination kinetics of the above‐mentioned compounds were determined in a static reaction system over the temperature range of 369–450.3°C and pressure range of 29–103.5 Torr. The reactions are homogeneous, unimolecular, and obey a first‐order rate law. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius expressions: ethyl 3‐(piperidin‐1‐yl) propionate, log k₁(s^?1) = (12.79 ± 0.16) ? (199.7 ± 2.0) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1; ethyl 1‐methylpiperidine‐3‐carboxylate, log k₁(s^?1) = (13.07 ± 0.12)–(212.8 ± 1.6) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1; ethyl piperidine‐3‐carboxylate, log k₁(s^?1) = (13.12 ± 0.13) ? (210.4 ± 1.7) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1; and 3‐piperidine carboxylic acid, log k₁(s^?1) = (14.24 ± 0.17) ? (234.4 ± 2.2) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. The first step of decomposition of these esters is the formation of the corresponding carboxylic acids and ethylene through a concerted six‐membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism. The intermediate β‐amino acids decarboxylate as the α‐amino acids but in terms of a semipolar six‐membered cyclic transition state mechanism. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 106–114, 2006     

Intermolecular insertion of an N,N-heterocyclic carbene into a nonacidic C-H bond: Kinetics, mechanism and catalysis by (K-HMDS)2 (HMDS = Hexamethyldisilazide)

The reaction of 2‐[¹³C]‐1‐ethyl‐3‐isopropyl‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐1‐ium hexafluorophosphate ([¹³C₁]‐ 1 ‐PF₆) with a slight excess (1.03 equiv) of dimeric potassium hexamethyldisilazide (“(K‐HMDS)₂”) in toluene generates 2‐[¹³C]‐3‐ethyl‐1‐isopropyl‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimid‐2‐ylidene ([¹³C₁]‐ 2 ). The hindered meta‐stable N,N‐heterocyclic carbene [¹³C₁]‐ 2 thus generated undergoes a slow but quantitative reaction with toluene (the solvent) to generate the aminal 2‐[¹³C]‐2‐benzyl‐3‐ethyl‐1‐isopropylhexahydropyrimidine ([¹³C₁]‐ 14 ) through formal C? H insertion of C(2) (the “carbene carbon”) at the toluene methyl group. Despite a significant pK_a mismatch (ΔpK_a 1 ⁺ and toluene estimated to be ca. 16 in DMSO) the reaction shows all the characteristics of a deprotonation mechanism, the reaction rate being strongly dependent on the toluene para substituent (ρ=4.8(±0.3)), and displaying substantial and rate‐limiting primary (k_H/k_D=4.2(±0.6)) and secondary (k_H/k_D=1.18(±0.08)) kinetic isotope effects on the deuteration of the toluene methyl group. The reaction is catalysed by K‐HMDS, but proceeds without cross over between toluene methyl protons and does not involve an HMDS anion acting as base to generate a benzyl anion. Detailed analysis of the reaction kinetics/kinetic isotope effects demonstrates that a pseudo‐first‐order decay in 2 arises from a first‐order dependence on 2 , a first‐order dependence on toluene (in large excess) and, in the catalytic manifold, a complex noninteger dependence on the K‐HMDS dimer. The rate is not satisfactorily predicted by equations based on the Brønsted salt‐effect catalysis law. However, the rate can be satisfactorily predicted by a mole‐fraction‐weighted net rate constant: ?d[ 2 ]/dt=({x ₂ k_uncat}+{(1?x ₂ ) k_cat})[ 2 ]¹[toluene]¹, in which x ₂ is determined by a standard bimolecular complexation equilibrium term. The association constant (K_a) for rapid equilibrium–complexation of 2 with (K‐HMDS)₂ to form [ 2 (K‐HMDS)₂] is extracted by nonlinear regression of the ¹³C NMR shift of C(2) in [¹³C₁]‐ 2 versus [(K‐HMDS)₂] yielding: K_a=62(±7) M ^?1; δ_C(2) in 2 =237.0 ppm; δ_C(2) in [ 2 (K‐HMDS)₂]=226.8 ppm. It is thus concluded that there is discrete, albeit inefficient, molecular catalysis through the 1:1 carbene/(K‐HMDS)₂ complex [ 2 (K‐HMDS)₂], which is found to react with toluene more rapidly than free 2 by a factor of 3.4 (=k_cat/k_uncat). The greater reactivity of the complex [ 2 (K‐HMDS)₂] over the free carbene ( 2 ) may arise from local Brønsted salt‐effect catalysis by the (K‐HMDS)₂ liberated in the solvent cage upon reaction with toluene.     

Copper‐Catalyzed 8‐Amido Chelation‐Induced Remote C−H Amination of Quinolines

A copper‐catalyzed 8‐amide chelation‐induced remote C?H amination of quinolines has been developed. This direct amination with readily available azodicarboxylates proceeded with perfect C5‐regioselectivity offering amino‐substituted 8‐aminoquinolines, important bioactive molecular scaffolds, in very high yields (up to 96 %). A single‐electron transfer (SET)‐mediated mechanism with k_H/k_D=1.1 was proposed after trapping of the radical intermediate.     

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the NH2 + HNOx Reactions,Part I: Kinetics and Mechanism for NH2 + HNO

The kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of NH₂ with HNO have been investigated by ab initio calculations with rate constant prediction. The potential energy surface of this reaction has been computed by single‐point calculations at the CCSD(T)/6‐311+G(3df, 2p) level based on geometries optimized at the CCSD/6‐311++G(d, p) level. The major products of this reaction were found to be NH₃ + NO formed by H‐abstraction via a long‐lived H₂N???HNO complex and the H₂NN(H)O radical intermediate formed by association with 26.9 kcal/mol binding energy. The rate constants for formation of primary products in the temperature range of 300–3000 K were predicted by variational transition state or RRKM theories. The predicted total rate constants at the 760 Torr Ar pressure can be represented by k_total = 3.83 × 10^?20 × T^+2.47exp(1450/T) at T = 300–600 K; 2.58 × 10^?22 × T^+3.15 exp(1831/T) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at T = 600?3000 K. The branching ratios of major channels at 760 Torr Ar pressure are predicted: k₁ + k₃ + k₄ producing NH₃ + NO accounts for 0.59–0.90 at T = 300–3000 K peaking around 1000 K, k₂ accounts for 0.41–0.03 at T = 300–600 K decreasing with temperature, and k₅ accounts for 0.07–0.27 at T > 600 K increasing gradually with temperature. The NH₃ + NO formation rate constant was found to be a factor of 3–10 smaller than that of the isoelectronic reaction CH₃ + HNO producing CH₄ + NO, which has been shown to take place by barrierless H‐abstraction without involving a hydrogen‐bonding complex as in the NH₂ case. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 677–677, 2009     

Kinetic studies of the reactions of pentacyanoferrate(III) complexes with L‐ascorbic acid

The reduction of Fe(CN)₅L^2? (L = pyridine, isonicotinamide, 4,4′‐bipyridine) complexes by ascorbic acid has been subjected to a detailed kinetic study in the range of pH 1–7.5. The rate law of the reaction is interpreted as a rate determining reaction between Fe(III) complexes and the ascorbic acid in the form of H₂A(k₀), HA^?(k₁), and A^2? (k₂), depending on the pH of the solution, followed by a rapid scavenge of the ascorbic acid radicals by Fe(III) complex. With given Ka₁ and Ka₂, the rate constants are k₀ = 1.8, 7.0, and 4.4 M^?1 s^?1; k₁ = 2.4 × 10³, 5.8 × 10³, and 5.3 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1; k₂ = 6.5 × 10⁸, 8.8 × 10⁸, and 7.9 × 10⁸ M^?1 s^?1 for L = py, isn, and bpy, respectively, at μ = 0.10 M HClO₄/LiClO₄, T = 25°C. The kinetic results are compatible with the Marcus prediction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 126–133, 2005