A solution study of complex formation between iron(III) and oxalate in dimethylsulphoxide

The complex formation between iron(III) and oxalic acid (ethanedioic acid, H2ox) has been studied by potentiometry in dimethylsulphoxide (dmso) solution. H2ox behaves as a weak diprotic acid in such a solvent, with overall association constants: log βj1=8.551(3) and log βj2=14.242(3) at 25°C and 0.1 Mn-Bu4NClO4. A reliable set of overall stability constants for the iron(III)-oxalato complexes, log β11=13.16(4), log β12=23.66(4) and log β13=30.75(4), have been obtained for the first time under identical conditions. The electrochemical behaviour of such complexes was studied in dmso at a platinum electrode. The coordination ability of oxalate towards iron(III) in dmso and water media is compa…