MECHANISTIC STUDY OF OXIDATION REACTIONS OF HYDROQUINONE, CATECHOL, AND L-ASCORBIC-ACID BY DICYANOBIS(1,10-PHENANTHROLINE)IRON(III) IN DIMETHYL-SULFOXIDE

Reactions of hydroquinone, catechol, and L-ascorbic acid with dicyanob is(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(III) were studied in dimethyl sulfoxide (D MSO). Application of the Marcus theory to the reactions of catechol an d hydroquinone provided the electron exchange rate constant for the Fe (III/II) couple in DMSO. The self-exchange rate constant for the ascor bic acid/radical couple was estimated for the first time in DMSO. The one electron-oxidation process of L-ascorbic acid in an aprotic solven ts such as DMSO may be completely different from that in aqueous solut ions.