https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.O04351
An outer-sphere
electron transfer
is a reaction in which the
electron transfer
takes place with no or very weak (4 16kJmol1) electronic interaction between the reactants in the
transition state
. If instead the donor and the acceptor exhibit a strong electronic
coupling
, the reaction is described as
inner-sphere electron transfer
. The two terms derive from studies concerning metal complexes and it has been suggested that for organic reactions the terms 'nonbonded' and 'bonded'
electron transfer
should be used.
See also:
inner-sphere electron transfer
Sources:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. (Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 1148 [Terms] [Paper]
PAC, 1996, 68, 2223. (Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)) on page 2257 [Terms] [Paper]