Reaction of [RuIII(edta)(H2O)]- with H2O2 in aqueous solution. Kinetic and mechanistic investigation.

The reaction of [Ru(III)(edta)(H(2)O)](-) (1) (edta = ethylenediaminetetraacetate) with hydrogen peroxide was studied kinetically as a function of [H(2)O(2)], temperature (5-35 degrees C) and pressure (1-1300 atm) at a fixed pH of 5.1 using stopped-flow techniques. The reaction was found to consist of two steps involving the rapid formation of a [Ru(III)(edta)(OOH)](2-) intermediate which subsequently undergoes parallel heterolytic and homolytic cleavage to produce [(edta)Ru(V)=O](-) (45%) and [(edta)Ru(IV)(OH)](-) (55%), respectively. The water soluble trap, 2,2'-azobis(3-ethylbenzithiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), was employed to substantiate the mechanistic proposal. Reactions were carried out under pseudo-first conditions for [ABTS] >> [HOBr] >> [1], and were monitored as a function of time for the formation of the one-electron oxidation product ABTS* (+). A detailed mechanism in agreement with the rate and activation parameters is presented, and the results are discussed with reference to data reported for the corresponding [Fe(III)(edta)(H(2)O)](-)/H(2)O(2) system.