For Sandmeyer cyanation at 298 K in 50% v/v aqueous acetonitrile buffered at pH 8, absolute rate constants have been obtained for the reduction of 4-methoxybenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate by the cyanocuprate() anions Cu  (CN) 4 3Ϫ , Cu  (NCMe)(CN) 3 2Ϫ and Cu  (NCMe) 2 (CN) 2 Ϫ as (0.50 ± 0.05), (0.12 ± 0.03) and 0.0 dm 3 mol Ϫ1 s Ϫ1 , respectively. The relative reactivity of the two reactive cyanocuprates reflects the estimated difference in their standard reduction potentials. Ligand transfer to the aryl radical from the cyanocuprate() anions produced in the reaction occurs within the solvent cage. By use of radical clocks, first order rate constants of the order of 1 × 10 8 s Ϫ1 for ligand transfer between the caged reactants can be evaluated although the transfer rate may vary from one aryl radical to another. No difference was discerned in ligand transferring reactivity between the two cyanocuprate() complexes involved.

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Relative to the rate observed for the hexa-aqua ion, Cu(OH(2))(6)(2+), chelation of the copper catalyst by certain bidentate ligands enhances the rate of hydroxydediazoniation reaction (Sandmeyer hydroxylation); the ligands also provide a source of hydrogen in competitive hydrodediazoniation (H-transfer) reactions. By using the cyclisation of 2-benzoylphenyl radical as a radical clock, it has been possible to evaluate absolute rate constants for both processes effected by a variety of complexes involving one or two bidentate ligands (2-aminocarboxylate, 2-hydroxycarboxylate, 1,3-dicarboxylate, 1,2-diamine). The radical exhibits electrophilic character in both processes. The pattern of behaviour observed suggests the rate determining step in hydroxylation is reaction of the aryl radical at the metal centre to form an organocopper adduct which is rapidly converted into products. The relative reactivities of different complexes are explained qualitatively in terms of variations in the ligand field and Jahn-Teller distortion splittings of the copper d orbitals. Hydrodediazoniation is an S(H)2 H-abstraction process. Generally, coordination by Cu(2+) deactivates the first added ligand relative to its reactivity as a free species in the same state of protonation. For the majority of complexes studied, the relative reactivity as H-donors of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 complexes is statistically determined but an additional electronic effect is discerned for doubly charged ions.