Electron transfer. 147. Reductions with gallium(I)

Solutions 0.03-0.05 M in gallium(I) can be generated by treatment of the "mixed" halide Ga(I)Ga(III)Cl(4) with cold water under argon and then removing the precipitated metallic gallium and Ga(OH)(3) by centrifugation. Ga(I) is lost from such preparations with a half-life of about 3 h at 0 degrees C. These solutions, which may be handled by conventional techniques, readily reduce I(3)(-), IrCl(6)(2)(-), Fe(bipy)(3)(3+), Fe(NCS)(2+), aquacob(III)alamin, and a group of ring-substituted derivatives of Ru(NH(3))(5)(py)(3+) but are inert to (NH(3))(5)CoCl(2+) and (NH(3))(5)CoBr(2+). All reactions give Ga(III). Reduction of HCrO(4)(-) in 2-ethyl-2-hydroxybutanoate buffers (pH 3.6) yields a Cr(IV) chelate of the buffering anion but forms Cr(III) when carried out in 0.01 M H(+). Reactions of le(-) oxidants proceed via successive single changes with the conversion Ga(II) --> Ga(III) much more rapid than Ga(I) --> Ga(II). Only for the reactions of I(3)(-) and Fe(NCS)(2+) is there evidence for redox bridging.