Two-state model based on electron-transfer reactivity changes to quantify the noncovalent interaction between Co(NH3)5Cl2+ and 18-crown-6 ether: the effect of second-sphere coordination on electron-transfer processes.

The electron-transfer reaction between [Fe(CN)6]4- and [CoCl(NH3)5]2+ was studied in the presence of 18-crown-6 ether (18C6) in different reaction media constituted by water and acetonitrile as organic cosolvent at 298.2 K. The results corresponding to this reaction show a clear influence of 18C6 on the kinetics: a positive catalytic effect. Trends in the observed reactivity are explained by a change in the degree of association of one of the reactants (the cobalt complex) with the 18C6. This association is governed by an equilibrium constant that depends on the dielectric constant of the medium. The results show an increase of the rate constants for the electron-transfer process as the 18-crown-ether concentration increases and an increase of the binding free energy of the cobalt complex to the 18C6 when the electrostatic field of the medium becomes weaker. An analysis of the experimental data allows not only the reactivity changes associated with adducts formation processes for an electron-transfer reaction but also information on the binding free energy of the cobalt complex to the 18C6 to be obtained, which can be quantified by using a two-state model. We have found a good correlation between the energy of binding and the Kosower's Z-value. The influence of the 18C6 in the intramolecular electron transfer in the binuclear complex [Fe(CN)5pzCo(NH3)5] has been also investigated.