An outer-sphere
electron transfer is a reaction in which the
electron transfer takes place with no or very weak
(
-
) 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 term '
nonbonded' and '
bonded'
electron transfer should be used.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1148
PAC, 1996, 68, 2223
(Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2257
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by
A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).
XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic,
J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.
