Cation-independent electron transfer between ferricyanide and ferrocyanide ions in aqueous solution

Electron transfer between Fe(CN)(6)(3-) and Fe(CN)(6)(4-) in homogeneous aqueous solution with K(+) as the counterion normally proceeds almost exclusively by a K(+)-catalyzed pathway, but this can be suppressed, and the direct Fe(CN)(6)(3)(-)-Fe(CN)(6)(4-) electron transfer path exposed, by complexing the K(+) with crypt-2.2.2 or 18-crown-6. Fe((13)CN)(6)(4-)-NMR line broadening measurements using either crypt-2.2.2 or (with extrapolation to zero uncomplexed [K(+)]) 18-crown-6 gave consistent values for the rate constant and activation volume (k(0) = (2.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) L mol(-1) s(-1) and Delta V(0) = -11.3 +/- 0.3 cm(3) mol(-1), respectively, at 25 degrees C and ionic strength I = 0.2 mol L(-1)) for the uncatalyzed electron transfer path. These values conform well to predictions based on Marcus theory. When [K(+)] was controlled with 18-crown-6, the observed rate constant k(ex) was a linear function of uncomplexed [K(+)], giving k(K) = (4.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(4) L(2) mol(-2) s(-1) at 25 degrees C and I = 0.26 mol L(-1) for the K(+)-catalyzed pathway. When no complexing agent was present, k(ex) was roughly proportional to [K(+)](total), but the corresponding rate constant k(K)' (=k(ex)/[K(+)](total)) was about 60% larger than k(K), evidently because ion pairing by hydrated K(+) lowered the anion-anion repulsions. Ionic strength as such had only a small effect on k(0), k(K), and k(K)'. The rate constants commonly cited in the literature for the Fe(CN)(6)(3-/4-) self-exchange reaction are in fact k(K)'[K(+)](total) values for typical experimental [K(+)](total) levels.     

Fluorimetric determination of bromate by ion-exchange separation and post-column derivatization

For the determination of bromate in drinking water a stopped-flow post-column reaction was developed following the separation of bromate from the matrix by an anion-exchange column. In the post-column reaction the analyte was used to oxidize the azo dye sulfonaphtholazoresorcinol, SNAR, and the residual amount was converted into a fluorescent binuclear complex by an excess of gallium ions. The fluorescence was monitored at 585 nm, with a maximum excitation wavelength at 521 nm. The determination of bromate is based on the decrease of the fluorescence intensity with increasing bromate concentration. The given hydrodynamic parameters and the condition of equal flow rates of the two branch streams at each T-piece have to be considered as an important criterion for the experimental set-up. The volume flows and the concentrations required for the reagent solutions in the influent of each T-piece were determined as a result of batch experiments and theoretical considerations. The limit of detection was 0.28 g L^–1bromate for the flow method, which shows linearity up to 15 gL^–1 bromate.     

A Molecular Magnet Confined in the Nanocage of a Globular Protein

The effect of confinement and energy transfer on the dynamics of a molecular magnet, known as a model system to study quantum coherence, is investigated. For this purpose the well‐known polyoxovanadate [V₁₅As₆O₄₂(H₂O)]^6? (V₁₅) is incorporated into a protein (human serum albumin, HSA) cavity. Due to a huge overlap of the optical absorption spectrum of V₁₅ with the emission spectrum of a fluorescence center of HSA (containing a single tryptophan residue), energy transfer is induced and probed by steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence. The geometrical coordination and the distance of the confined V₁₅ to the tryptophan moiety of HSA are investigated at various temperatures. This effect is used as a local probe for the thermal denaturation of the protein at elevated temperatures.