In the reaction o
f [Fe(CN)
5NO
f">]3- with O
2 (4:1 stoichiometry), the nitroprusside ion [Fe(CN)
5NO
]2- (NP) was quantitatively produced. The rate law was -1/4d[Fe(CN)
5NO
f">3-]/d
t =
k2[Fe(CN)
5NO
f">3-][O
2], with
k2 = (3.5 ± 0.2) × 10
5 M
-1 s
-1 at 25.0
f">C. The rate was insensitive to pH (range 9-11) and ionic strength (
I = 0.1-1 M). Excess cyanide was used
for minimizing the production o
f [Fe(CN)
4NO
]2-, which appeared to be much less reactive. Addition o
f O
2 to the NO
f"> group is proposed to generate peroxynitrite bound to Fe(III), which reacts rapidly with [Fe(CN)
5NO
f">]
3- to yield [Fe(CN)
5NO
2f">]
3-. Reaction between the latter radical ions leads to the
final product, NP. Comparison with the autoxidation rates
for other NO
f"> complexes reveals that the rate constants decrease with an increase in
ENO+/NO, the redox potentials o
f the bound NO
+/NO
f"> couples. Six-coordination appears to be necessary
for attaining reasonable electrophilic rates
for the NO
f"> ligand, as with other heme and non-heme complexes.