Mechanism of oxidative decarboxylation of phenylsulfinylacetic acids (PSAAs) by iron(III) polypyridyl complexes in aqueous acetonitrile medium has been investigated spectrophotometrically. 3+ is rationalized on the basis of coordination of a water molecule at the carbon atom adjacent to the ring nitrogen of the metal polypyridyl complexes by nucleophilic attack at higher concentrations. Electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing substituents in PSAA facilitate the reaction and Hammett correlation gives an upward 'V' shaped curve. The apparent upward curvature is rationalized based on the change in the rate determining step from electron transfer to nucleophilic attack, by changing the substituents from electron-releasing to electron-withdrawing groups. Electron-releasing substituents in PSAA accelerate the electron transfer from PSAA to the complex and also stabilize the intermediate through resonance interaction leading to negative reaction constants (ρ). Conversely, electron-withdrawing groups, while retarding the electron transfer exert an accelerating effect on the nucleophilic attack of H 2 O which leading to low magnitude of ρ + compared to high ρ À values of electron-releasing groups. Marcus theory is applied, and a fair agreement is seen with the experimental values.