Formation and Reduction of Zero-Valent Metal Complexes studied Polarographically

Abstract

IN the course of the reduction of inorganic compounds the electron is always accepted by the lowest unoccupied (or singly occupied) orbital in the depolarizing particle, regardless of whether this orbital is localized in the central metal atom (or some ligand-atom) or whether it is an unlocalized molecular orbital. After the acceptance of the electron, a rearrangement of electrons and ligands takes place leading to the most stable configuration of the particle with one more electron formed in the reduction. The rate and mechanism of the electrode process depend on the rate and mechanism of this rearrangement.