Influence of polymer-surfactant interactions on the reactivity of the CoIII-FeII redox couple

In continuation of our recent study on the inner sphere electron transfer reduction of the cobalt(III) complex, [Co-III(NH3)(5)N-3]Cl-2 by Mohr's salt (Fe-II), we have investigated the effect of neutral polymer (poly(ethylene glycol) with relative molecular mass 200, PEG 200)-surfactant (both cationic and non-ionic) mixture on the kinetics of the same reaction using spectrophotometric and conductometric techniques at 298 K. Both the cationic and non-ionic surfactants have undergone interaction with polymer. Experimental consequences reveal that the catalytic effect imposed by the polymer-surfactant complexes causes significant change of the kinetic activities of the reaction. The gradual enhancement and retardation of the rate have been found with gradual addition of PEG 200 and cationic surfactant respectively. An attempt has been taken to rationalize the experimental findings with proper correlation of the reported literature. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.