5731
produced in the reverse of reaction 4 is consumed quite a is all the more remarkable in that Cr2+ is a much rapidly by iron(II1). We have carried out a few rate stronger reducing agent than V2+. The inversion of experiments on this reaction (eq 6) and find a secondreactivity can be regarded as a point in favor of a substantially different reaction mechanism for each. Fe3++ Cu+ = Fez+ + Cuz+ (6) An additional point of evidence concerning mechorder rate constant of 1.2 X lo5 M-I sec-' at 25 f anism is to be found in the observation that in the pres2" (1 F perchloric acid). ence of chloride ion, where the stable complex CuC12We are at present carrying out a number of other is formed, appreciable concentrations of (H20)5CrC12+ studies on the generation of Cu+ in perchlorate soluare formed. Whether the chloro complex forms as a tion and in the presence of some anions, and on its consequence of an inner-sphere reaction of CuC1+ with reactions with a variety of oxidizing substrates. Cr2+, or by reaction of Cu2+ and CrCl+, of unspecified mechanism, cannot be stated at the present time. James H. Espenson, Kenneth Shaw, 0. Jerry Parker Europium(I1) is not a particularly suitable reducing Department of Chemistry and Institute for Atomic Research, Iowa State Uniaersity, Ames, Iowa 50030 agent for preparation of Cu+ since the second-stage Receired August 2 I , I967 reduction is sufficiently fast that some metal is invariably produced. On the basis of initial rates, we estimate the second-order rate constant for the reaction of Eu2+ The Triplet Energy of a Rigid Azo Compound and Cu2+is -3 M-' sec-I. We have studied the reactions of Cu+ with a variety Sir : of oxidizing agents in perchlorate solutions. Among Although fluorescence has recently been observed the oxidizing agents of particular interest are V02+, for certain azo compounds, phosphorescence has Hg2+, Fe3+ and its complexes, Co(II1) complexes, never been seen3 Thus in contrast to the extensive and HCr04-. These reactions range from several knowledge of carbonyl triplet e n e r g i e ~ ,no ~ significant that were so fast that even at the lowest concentrations experimental evidence is available for determining the no reaction could be detected (HCr04-, F e ( ~ h e n ) ~ ~ + ) , triplet level of the azo group. to others that, in the time needed for disproportionaThe several estimates which have been made, howtion of Cu+ to set in, had reacted inappreciably (Co(NH3)63+),or to only a small extent ( C O ( N H ~ ) ~ O H ~ ~ +ever, ) . indicate that an n-r* singlet-triplet splitting of 15-20 kcal is a reasonable value for both cis The reaction of Cu+ with V 0 2 + (eq 4) is of especial and trans azo compound^.^ The singlet energy of CU++ V 0 2 + + 2H+ CU" + V3+ + HzO (4) acyclic aliphatic azo compounds can be estimated as 75 kcal from the broad, structureless ultraviolet abimportance, for Higginson and Sykes6 studied the sorption,6 while that for 2,3-diazabicyclooctene-2is catalytic effect of Cu(I1) upon the V(II1)-Fe(II1) 76 kcal from measurement of the fluorescence specreaction in perchlorate solution. They identified the trum.7 Thus the azo triplet should not be below 5 5 reverse of reaction 4 as the process responsible for kcal. It might be expected that sensitizers of triplet catalysis. The predominant term has the form - d energy below this value would be markedly inefficient [V3+]/dt = ~[CU~+][V~+][H+]-~, with h 0.3 sec-I at in energy transfer to azo compounds.* p = 3.0 M and 25.0'. The rate of reaction 4 obeyed Attempts to locate the azo triplet experimentally by the relation in eq 5, with e = 3.9 X l o 2 M - 2 sec-I the use of a series of sensitizers of varying energy have d[V "]/dt = e[Cu+][VO"][H+] (5) been without success. Hammondja found no readily interpretable pattern in the quantum yield of ethyl at 25.0' and p = 3.0 M . Assuming these are the reazoisobutyrate decomposition using triplet sensitizers verse of one another, we compute that the equilibrium ranging in energy from 42.6 to 68.5 kcal. Nelsens quotient for reaction 4, e/h, is 1.3 X lo3 A P 2 , compared found that anthracene and 1,2-benzanthracene (ET to the calculated (1-2) X l o 3 M - 2 , based on known = 42.6 and 47 kcal, respectively) would decompose standard potentials. azocumene with moderate efficiency. We have obA second and less important term of the form g[Cu2+]. tained similar results using pyrene to photosensitize [V3+] was also claimed,6 but we question whether this azomethane and azoisobutane decomposition. is a genuine rate term. The treatment of the catalysis This apparent discrepancy between theory and exrate data6 involved an appreciable correction for the periment can be rationalized if one says that low-energy uncatalyzed reaction. Certain discrepancies in this sensitizers decompose azo compounds via nonvertical contribution were noted;6 in view of the lack of a energy transfer.5a Any attempt, therefore, to locate the corresponding rate term in the forward rate of reactriplet using a series of sensitizers must preclude nontion 4,7 we are inclined to regard it as a result of the vertical transfer. It seemed to us that use of an azo computational procedures employed. Alternatively, catalysis may proceed by a pathway g[Cu2+][V3+] (1) C. Steel and T. Thomas, Chem. Commun., 900 (1966). that is m t the reverse of reaction 4. (2) W. L. Mock, Ph.D. Thesis, Harvard University, 1964. (3) R . Rebbert and P. Ausloos, J . A m . Chem. 'Soc., 87, 1847 (1965). A second reaction of Cu+ to be considered, also (4) J . Calvert and J. Pitts, "Photochemistry," John Wiley and Sons, invoked in the same Cu(I1) catalysis problem, is that Inc., New York, N . Y . , 1966, p 298. ( 5 ) (a) J. R. Fox and G. S . Hammond, J . A m . Chem. Soc., 86, 4031 with Fe(II1). The interpretation offered6 is the Cu+
-
(6) W. C. E. Higginson and A. G. Sykes, J . Chem. Soc., 2841 (1962). (7) The rate constant in the expression f[Cu+][VO*+][H+]zcan be estimated: f = egh-1 = 85 M-3 sec-'. Thus an estimated 40% of the reaction should proceed along this path at [H+] = 3.0 M . Our data indicate an undetectably small contribution of this path, and we set an upper limit f 5 8 M - 3 sec-1.
(1964); (b) D. R . Ikarns, J . Phys. Chem., 69, 1062 (1965): (c) R. Ake, private communication; (d) J. Swenton, private communication. (6) See, for example, the spectrum of azomethane in hexane: G. Kortiim and H. Rau, Ber. Bunsenges. Physik. Chem., 68, 973 (1964). (7) T. Thomas and C. Steel, J . Am. Chem. Soc., 87, 5290 (1965). (8) G. Porter and F. Wilkenson, Proc. Roy. SOC.(London), A264, 1 (1961). (9) S. F. Nelsen, Ph.D. Thesis, Harvard University, 1965.
Communications to the Editor
5732 Table I. Photolysis at 366 mp of 0.02 M 2,3-Diazabicycloheptene-2at 20 O ~
kl,(l Sensitizer (concn, M ) E T , kcal4 Solvent Anthracene (0.053) Pyrene (0.050) P-Acetonaphthone (0.10) Phenanthrene (0.10) Phenanthrene (0.050) Thioxanthone (0.052) Triphenylene (0.108) Benzophenone (0.10)
42.6* Toluene 48.7 Hexane 5 9 . 3 Hexane 62.2 Hexane 6 2 . 2 Toluene 65.5 Toluene 6 6 . 6 Toluene 68.5 Hexane
@
sec-1
2 . 7
