The kinetics of redox reactions of the Pt-IV complexes trans-Pt(d,l)(1,2-(NH2)(2)C6H10)Cl-4 ([(PtCl4)-Cl-IV(dach)]) and Pt(NH2CH2CH2NH2)Cl-4 ([(PtCl4)-Cl-IV(en)]) with 5'- and 3'-dGMP (G) have been studied. These redox reactions involve substitution followed by an inner-sphere electron transfer. The substitution is catalyzed by Pt-II and follows the classic Basolo-Pearson Pt-II-catalyzed Pt-IV-substitution mechanism. We found that the substitutution rates depend on the steric hindrance of PtII, G, and PtIV with the least sterically hindered PtII complex catalyzing at the highest rate. 3'-dGMP undergoes substitution faster than 5'-dGMP, and [PtIVCl4(en)] substitutes faster than [PtIVCl4(dach)]. The enthalpies of activation of the substitution, Delta H-s(double dagger), of 3'-dGMP is only 70% greater than that of 5'-dGMP (50.4 vs 30.7 kJ mol(-1)), but the entropy of activation of the substitution, Delta S-s(double dagger), of 3'-dGMP is much greater than that of 5'-dGMP (-59.4 vs -129.5 J K-1 mol(-1)), indicating that steric hindrance plays a major role in the substitution. The enthalpy of activation of electron transfer, Delta H-e(double dagger), of 3'-dGMP is smaller than that of 5'-dGMP (88.8 vs 137.8 kJ mol(-1)). The entropy of activation of electron transfer, Delta S-e(double dagger), of 3'-dGMP is negative, but that of 5'-dGMP is positive (-27.8 vs +128.8 J K-1 mol(-1)). The results indicate that 5'-hydroxo has less rotational barrier than 5'-phosphate, but it is geometrically unfavorable for internal electron transfer. The electron-transfer rate also depends on the reduction potential of PtIV. Because of its higher reduction potential, [PtIVCl4(dach)] has a faster electron transfer than [(PtCl4)-Cl-IV(en)].