Multiple Substitution Effects and Three-dimensional Nonlinear Free- Energy Relationships in the Electrochemical Reduction of the N,N´-dibenzyl Viologen and the 4-Benzoyl-N-benzylpyridinium Cation

Abstract

The simultaneous effect of two substituents on the redox potentials, E1/2's, of N,N'-di(p-substituted benzyl)viologens (1-X,Y) and of 4-(p-substituted benzoyl)-N-(p-substituted benzyl) pyridinium cations (2-X,Y), was investigated in terms of the substituent constants, p-X and p-Y. Systems 1-X,Y and 2-X,Y were chosen because they both undergo successive outer sphere one electron (1-e) reductions, and therefore there is no ambiguity regarding the mechanism or the rate-determining step. Substituents (X and Y) were chosen among the -NO2, -Br, and -OCH3 groups in six different combinations for 1-X,Y's and nine different ones for 2-X,Y's. Response surfaces are essentially three-dimensional Hammett plots. Statistical analysis according to a quadratic model derived from the Taylor series expansion of the general extrathermodynamic relationship E1/2 = F(p-X,p-Y) that describes the dependence of E1/2's on the substituent constants shows that the substitution effect is not additive. Quite strong nonlinear terms appear when substituents can interact through resonance with a site involved in the electron-transfer process. This, for example, is the case for the second -e reduction of 2-X,Y's. Other significant nonlinear effects are attributed to stereoelectronic effects in combination with the high polarizability of -electrons. Our results have important implications on our ability to predict the effect of tuning of the redox potential of redox-active species through substitution.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Sponsor(s)

NASA Glenn Research Center Director's Discretionary Fund (DDF)

Keywords and Phrases

Electrons

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1520-6106

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2004 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2004

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