Electron exchange kinetics in a tetrahedrally coordinated copper(II)/(I) couple

Abstract
The four-coordinate anion CuI(dpym)2(Hdpym = 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-dicarboethoxydipyrromethene) can be prepared in solution in acetone either by electrochemical reduction of the known tetrahedral complex CuII(dpym)20(E0 = −290 mV vs. SCE) or by the quantitative reaction of 2Hdpym with Cu(CH3CN)4+in the absence of O2. The latter reaction does not go to completion in solvents that bind relatively strongly to CuIor that are poor proton acceptors. Ligand exchange between CuI(dpym)2excess Hdpym in acetone is "fast" in the1H NMR timeframe, with k1 = 1.4 × 107 L mol−1s−1at 298 K (first order in each reactant), ΔH1 = 3.4 ± 0.6 kJ mol−1, and ΔS1 = −97 ± 3 J K−1mol−1. In the absence of excess Hdpym, dissociation of CuI(dpym)2in acetone remains negligible. Homogeneous electron exchange between CuI(dpym)2and CuII(dpym)20in acetone falls in the "slow"1H NMR timeframe, with kex = 5.9 × 103 L mol−1 s−1, ΔHex = 48.5 ± 3.0 kJ mol−1, and ΔSex = −10 ± 10 J K−1, at ionic strength I ≈ 0.007 mol L−1and 298 K, while for the same self-exchange on a Pt electrode the heterogeneous rate constant kel = 0.16±0.04 cm s−1at I ≈ 0.1 mol−1L−1and 298 K, according to AC voltammetry. These values of Kexand Kelare of the order expected for CuII/Icouples in which no significant change in coordination number or geometry accompanies electron transfer. Keywords: Electron transfer, copper complexes, ligand substitution kinetics, dynamic NMR.

This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit: