FIGURE 10.

Possible pathways for nitrite catalysis of the reductive nitrosylation and routes for formation of nitrosating species through ferric-nitrite complexes. The two proposed pathways for the nitrite catalysis of reductive nitrosylation lead to the transient formation of nitrosating species such as NO₂^· and N₂O₃ (nitrite outer/inner sphere electron transfer routes). Similar routes with the formation of a Fe²⁺-NO₂^· intermediate that can react with NO have been proposed (nitric oxide-inner electron transfer route). Note that the routes where the inner sphere electron transfer occurs yield similar products and can hypothetically start from either Fe³⁺-NO or Fe³⁺-NO₂⁻ complexes.