The dramatic acceleration effect of imidazolium ionic liquids on electron transfer reactions

Abstract

Imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) exhibited a dramatic acceleration effect on the electron transfer from metal complexes such as (C5Me 5)2Fe(ii) and (C5Me5) 2Co(ii) to the oxygen molecule; this acceleration effect can be ascribed to the stabilization of the oxygen radical anions by coordinating with the acidic C2-H of imidazolium ILs. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.