The outer-sphere oxidation of the nickel(II) complex of the deprotonated pendant-arm macrocycle, 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1-acetate, [NiL1(OH2)]+ by bis-(1,4,7-triazacyclononane)nickel(III), [Ni(tacn)2]3+ has been studied in aqueous perchlorate media. The reaction displays reversible second-order behaviour and the kinetic study reveals the forward and reverse rate constants for the reaction: [Formula: see text] The kinetics show the forward reaction to be acid dependent, a feature that is attributed to protonation of the acetato group of the nickel(II) complex. Using Marcus theory, the self-exchange rate for the [NiL1(OH2)]+/2+ couple has been calculated. The nickel(II/III) electron transfer is a reversible one electron process with E° = 1.04 V (vs. S.H.E.). The formation of the authentic nickel(III) product has been confirmed by esr spectroscopy. The kinetics of reduction of the [NiL1(OH2)]2+ species by Fe2+(aq) exhibits a second-order rate law, the reaction being independent of acid. Using the calculated self-exchange rate for the nickel complex, its reaction with Fe2+(aq) has been examined in terms of an inner- versus outer-sphere mechanism. Key words: nickel(III), pendant-arm macrocycles, hexaaquairon(II), outer sphere, kinetics, Marcus theory.
Kinetics of reduction by substrate or dithionite and heme-heme electron transfer in the multiheme hydroxylamine oxidoreductase