Reactions of SO 3 •radicals with complexes of Ni(II and I) and Cu(II and I) were investigated under anaerobic conditions. Reactions of CuCR + , Cu(TIM) + , and Ni(Me 6 [14]dieneN 4 ) + with SO 3 •radicals were investigated by time-resolved spectroscopy. The kinetics of the processes is in accordance with an outer-sphere electrontransfer mechanism. Intermediates with a ligand-radical nature were observed in SO 3 •reactions with Cu(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) 2 + , Cu(Me 6 [14]dieneN 4 ) 2+ , NiCR 2+ , or NiCRH 4 2+ . Two products were isolated in the reaction of NiCR 2+ with SO 3 •radicals, one product with a sulfonated macrocycle and the other product with one additional double bond in the macrocycle. These products confirmed the attack of the ligand by SO 3 •radicals and the formation of intermediates with a ligand-radical nature. A mechanism based on the oxidative addition of SO 3 •radicals to the ligand accounts also for the kinetics of product formation.