Kinetics and mechanism of acid-catalyzed oxidation of bromide ions by the aqueous chromyl(IV) ion

The reaction between the aqueous chromyl ion, CraqO2+, and Br- is acid-catalyzed and generates Br2. Kinetic studies that utilized a superoxochromium ion, CraqOO2+, as a kinetic probe yielded a mixed third-order rate law, -dCraqO2+]/dt=kCraqO2+]Br-]H+], where k=608+/-11 M-2 s-1. Experimental data strongly favor a one-electron mechanism, but the reaction is much faster than predicted on the basis of the reduction potential for the Br*/Br- couple. The reduction of CraqO2+ by transition-metal complexes, on the other hand, exhibits "normal" behavior, that is, k=(1.37x10(3)+1.94x10(3) H+]) M-1 s-1 for Os(1,10-tris-phenanthroline)(3)2+ and <10 M-1 s-1 for Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)3(2+) at 0.1 M H+. The reduction of CraqOO2+ by Br2*- takes place with a rate constant k=(1.23+/-0.20)x10(9) M-1 s-1, as determined by laser-flash photolysis.