OUTER-SPHERE HEXACYANOFERRATE(III) OXIDATION OF ORGANIC SUBSTRATES

This review surveys the kinetics of the oxidation of organic substrate s by hexacyanoferrate(III). Although a relatively poor oxidant, hexacy anoferrate(III) is a selective outer-sphere reactant applicable to the most easily oxidizable substrates, and frequently it is used as an in terceptor of free radicals; this converts this species into an efficie nt one-electron oxidant particularly interesting in the comparative st udy of octahedral complexes. The major developments for each family of substrates are emphasized, comparing the mechanistic details for the various reaction types. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.