Intermediates in photochemistry of Fe(III) complexes with carboxylic acids in aqueous solutions.

The primary processes in the photochemistry of Fe(III) complexes with carboxylic acids (glyoxalic, tartaric, pyruvic and lactic) were studied by means of laser flash photolysis. The inner-sphere electron transfer with the formation of Fe(II) complex and an escape of an organic radical to the solution bulk was shown to be a minor channel of the photolysis. The main channel was proposed to be the formation of a long-lived radical complex [Fe(II)···˙OOC-R](2+). Spectral and kinetic parameters of the radical complexes are determined. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and Owner Societies 2011