Iron(II) catalysis in substitution reactions of amminepentacyano- and aquopentacyano-ferrate(III) ions

Abstract

Substitution reactions of the ions [Fe^III(CN)₅X]^2–(X = NH₃ and H₂O) by Y {Y = N₃^–, SCN^–, OH^–, and [Co(CN)₆]^3–} are catalysed by [Fe^II(CN)₅X]^3–. At iron(II) concentrations greater than ca. 1% of the total iron species present, the rate-determining step of these reactions is substitution of the ions [Fe^II(CN)₅X]^3– by Y.