Diffusion coefficients of tris (β -diketonato )ruthenium complexes of different charge numbers in acetonitrile solutions, measured by chronoamperometry

The diffusion coefficients of several tris(beta-diketonato) ruthenium complexes in acetonitrile solutions containing a supporting electrolyte were determined by chronoamperometry. The diffusion coefficients of the charged complexes, which were produced by electrochemical oxidation or reduction, were also determined by double potential step chronoamperometry. Two kinds of radii of the complexes were evaluated. One was the Van der Waals radius and the other was the geometric distance from the center of the complex to the outer surface of the farthest atom. The latter quantity was determined from X-ray diffractometric data. The diffusion coefficients of the neutral complexes were discussed on the basis of the Stokes-Einstein equation. Those of charged complexes could not be explained by the theoretical equation presented by Hubbard and Onsager.