Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of tris(4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline)-iron(II) by molecular oxygen
The reaction of (OHP)3Fe(II) (OHP = 4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline) with oxygen in aqueous 0.1 N NaOH solution takes place according to the stoichiometry:[Formula: see text]This stoichiometry holds whether (OHP)3Fe(II) or O2 is in excess. The rate law over a wide range of (OHP)3Fe(II) and O2 concentrations at 0.1 N NaOH has the form:[Formula: see text]A notable feature of this oxidation is that free HO2− is not produced as an intermediate. A plausible mechanism involving bound superoxide or peroxide as intermediates is proposed. Due to the redox nature of the OHP ligand and the low potenial of the (OHP)3Fe(II) complex, a 4 electron transfer from one (OHP)3Fe(II) to one O2 to give a Fe(IV) species with an oxidized ligand is a distinct possibility. The rate–pH profile is consistent with the protonation of (OHP)3Fe(II) (pKa ≈ 9.4) to give a more reactive species.