Convenient preparation and improved stability of aqueous indium(I) solutions used in electron transfer reactions

Abstract

Solutions 0.27 mol dm^–3 in In^I, prepared by treatment of indium amalgam with silver triflate in dry acetonitrile, are stable for more than 5 days in the absence of oxygen and may be diluted 300-fold with water to give In^I(aq) solutions which are stable for over 5 h; kinetic patterns for reactions of [Co(NH₃)₅X]²⁺(X = CL^–,Br^–,I^–, HC₂O₄-) with In^I point to a pair of consecutive 1 e transaction, the first (slower) of which is predominantly inner sphere.