Abstract
The reduction of VO(η2-O2)(pyridine-2-carboxylate) by Fe(H2O)62+ proceeds via formation of the transient complex (pyridine-2-carboxylate)(O)VV(μ-η2 : η2-O2)FeII(H2O)32+ that is transformed via intramolecular electron transfer into (pyridine-2-carboxylate)(O)VIV(μ-η2 : η2-O2)FeIII(H2O)32+. The latter transient reacts with another Fe(H2O)62+ to yield 2Fe(H2O)63+ + VVO(OH)(pyridine-2-carboxylate)+. These results point out that: (1) VV does not activate the η2 bound peroxide toward the Fenton-like reaction. In this aspect, VV differs from FeIII in (H2O)5Fe–OOH2+ and (2) transients of the type LmMn(μ-η2 : η2-O2)M′L″l have to be considered in the reductions of complexes of η2-bound peroxides.