Abstract
The excited *UO2+ 2(aq) in its lowest (5f, δu or ϕu), π3 u configuration is shown to interact with aquo-metallic complexes Mz+ (aq) to form, after solvent and ligand shell reorganisations, intimate pairs with the two ions in contact, probably surrounded by a common shell of water molecules. A favourable arrangement of the two aquo-ions in the intimate pair is shown to require little reorganisation for consecutive (*UO2+ 2(aq))πud(Mz+ (aq)) overlap and d-to-πu electron transfer, while (*UO2+ 2(aq))δu, πud2 or s2(Mz+ (aq)) overlaps require additional ligand shell reorganisation. The decomposition of the (UO+ 2—M(z+ 1)+)* exciplexes to (UO+ 2—M(z+ 1)+) solvated ion pairs which subsequently dissociate into solvent-separated ions UO+ 2(solv) and M(z+ 1)+ (solv), competes strongly with the direct decay of the exciplexes to give UO2+ 2 and Mz+. The expression of the rate constant of the *UO2+ 2 quenching, via *uranyl(VI)—Mz+ pair–exciplex–uranyl(V)—M(z+ 1)+ pair, is checked quantitatively. By means of this expression, the standard redox potential E°(*UO2+ 2/UO+ 2) is found to be 2.61 V, which is in agreement with the value given in the literature 2.60 V = 0.06 + 2.54 =E°(UO2+ 2/UO+ 2)+E0–0(5fâ†�πu). The possibility of electron transfer from species *UO+ 2(aq) to Mz+ (aq), with *UO+ 2(aq) being formed by hydrolysis of *UO2H2+ (aq), is also discussed.