X-ray diffraction analysis: A brief history and achievements of the first century

A DFT/B3LYP method using the 6-311++G(3df) basis set is employed to calculate the geometric, electronic, and thermodynamic parameters of O=NO-ON=O peroxide as an isomer of N₂O₄ dinitrogen tetraoxide. Calculations of the configuration interaction in a system of three paramagnetic particles with open shells have shown for the first time that the formation of cis-cis peroxide in the oxidation reaction of nitrogen oxide 2NO (²Π) + O₂ (³Σ_g) → O=NO-ON=O (¹ A) proceeds without an energy barrier in accordance with recently performed studies. The molecular orbital scheme of the barrierless activation of molecular oxygen and the driving force of the NO oxidation reaction are considered. A spontaneous character of the process is based on the idea of spin-catalysis when the reaction proceeds in the two-triplet state with total zero spin. The obtained results are in agreement with the experimental data on a spontaneous and irreversible process characterized by the observed negative activation energy.     

Indirect Electrooxidation of Organic Substrates by Hydrogen Peroxide Generated in an Oxygen Gas-Diffusion Electrode

Indirect electrooxidation of phenol, formaldehyde, and maleic acid in cells with and without a cation-exchange membrane, with a platinum anode and a gas-diffusion carbon black cathode, which generates hydrogen peroxide from molecular oxygen, proceeds with high efficiency and various oxidation depths, which depend on the intermediate nature: the process involving HO ₂ ^- occurs selectively and yields target products, while the formation of HO₂ ^· and HO^· leads to the destruction of organic compounds to CO₂ and H₂O.     

Oxidation of aminothiols by molecular oxygen catalyzed by copper ions. Stoichiometry of the reaction

Catalysis of oxidation of aminothiols by copper ions was studied depending on the structure of aminothiols and pH of the medium. The catalytic reaction proceeds in the inner coordination sphere of Cu⁺. At pH 7—9, oxidation of bidentate aminothiols involves reduction of O₂ to H₂O₂. At pH 9—13, oxidation of chelating aminothiols is accompanied by reduction of O₂ to H₂O, whereas oxidation of weak-chelating aminothiols still proceeds by the former mechanism. In this process, the thiolate anions coordinated to the Cu⁺ ions lose one electron each and are oxidized to amino disulfides, which go from the inner sphere of the Cu⁺ complex into a solution. Procedures developed for the determination of amino disulfides, the chemiluminescence determination of H₂O₂ in the presence of aminothiols as luminescence quenchers, and a modified polarographic procedure for the determination of O₂ allowed us to establish that oxidation of aminothiols is not accompanied by catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ that formed.     

Utilization of Chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques to study the oxidation kinetics of selenomethionine

Ion-exchange LC and spectroscopic supporting techniques have been successfully used to study the kinetics and mechanism of oxidation reactions of selenomethionine (SeMet). Oxidation of selenomethionine with both cyanogen bromide (CNBr) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) proceeds through a stable intermediate which undergoes cyclization and C-Se bond cleavage to form 2-amino-4-butyrolactone. This stable intermediate was identified by IR spectroscopy as methionine dihydroxy selenide. The CH₃-Se moiety of SeMet formed methyl selenic acid upon reaction with H₂O₂ and methyl selenocyanate (CH₃SeCN), characterized by GC-MS, for the reaction with CNBr. Both reactions were of apparent first order with respect to the concentration of SeMet. A rate constant (k₁)of 4.0×10^–3 s^–1 for the reaction of SeMet with HO and 4.0×10^–3 s^–1 for the reaction with CNBr were determined at a temperature of 22°C. Oxidation of methionine (Met) gives disparate kinetics and oxidation products from SeMet. Thus the differential rate method can be utilized to quantitatively separate SeMet in biological samples in the presence of much higher concentrations of Met.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of manganese(III) octaethylporphine with hydrogen peroxide

A spectroscopic and kinetic study of the oxidation of (chloro)(octaethylporphinato)manganese(III) (Cl)MnOEP with hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous-organic medium at 288–308 K was made. The nature and composition of the reaction products differ depending on the reaction conditions (H₂O₂ concentration). Based on the data on reaction rates, thermodynamic parameters of activation, and form of the rate equations of the (C1)MnOEP oxidation, a multistep reaction mechanism is suggested and substantiated, in which the decisive role is played by the limiting step, two-electron oxidation of the metal porphyrin with the coordinated peroxide or partial reduction of the oxidized form of the manganese porphyrin with the second peroxide molecule (in the form of HO ₂ ^? ), and by acid-base equilibria of the peroxide.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of excited state Tris-(2,2′-bipyridyl)-ruthenium (II) complex by peroxomonosulfate,peroxodisulfate, and peroxodiphosphate

Excitation of Ru(bipy)₃²⁺ ion by visible radiation of wavelength λ = 436 nm in aqueous medium in presence of inorganic peroxides, peroxomonosulfate (PMS), peroxodisulfate (PDS), and peroxodiphosphate (PDP) was found to generate Ru(bipy)₃³⁺. The kinetics of this photochemical oxidation of Ru(bipy)₃²⁺ by each peroxide was followed spectrophotometrically and found to obey a total second-order, first-order each in [Ru(bipy)₃²⁺] and [peroxide]. In the absence of light, thermal reaction of PMS and PDS with Ru(bipy)₃²⁺ occurred but only when at 1.0 M [H⁺] and > 10^?2M [peroxide]. The reaction of PMS with the complex is found to be cyclic, ie., Ru(bipy)₃³⁺ formed oxidizes PMS itself and such a reaction was not observed in the case of PDS and PDP. The effects of pH, [peroxide], and [Ru(bipy)₃²⁺] on the visible light induced oxidation of Ru(bipy)₃²⁺ by these peroxides are investigated. The results are discussed with suitable reaction mechanisms.     

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of isopropanol with the hydrogen peroxide-vanadate ion-pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid system

The vanadate anion in the presence of pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (PCA) was found to effectively catalyze the oxidation of isopropanol to acetone with hydrogen peroxide. The electronic spectra of solutions and the kinetics of oxidation were studied. The conclusion was drawn that the rate-determining stage of the reaction was the decomposition of the vanadium(V) diperoxo complex with PCA, and the particle that induced the oxidation of isopropanol was the hydroxyl radical. Supposedly, the HO^· radical detached a hydrogen atom from isopropanol, and the Me₂ C^· (OH) radical formed reacted with HOO^· to produce acetone and hydrogen peroxide. The electronic spectra of solutions in isopropanol and acetonitrile and the dependences of the initial rates of isopropanol oxidation without a solvent and cyclohexane oxidation in acetonitrile on the initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide were compared. The conclusion was drawn that hydroxyl radicals appeared in the oxidation of alkanes in acetonitrile in the decomposition of the vanadium diperoxo complex rather than the monoperoxo derivative, as was suggested by us earlier.     

Reactivity of fluorinated sulfur-containing heterocycles towards nucleophilic and oxidizing reagents

The reaction of 5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-6-thia-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-6-thia-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene and 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-dihydro-4,5-dimethyl-2H-thiopyran with i-C₃H₇MgCl leads to the formation of ring opening products as the result of nucleophilic attack of the Grignard reagent on the sulfur atom. According to DFT calculations the reactivity of the sulphur-containing substrate correlates with the strain energy of the heterocycle. The oxidation of 3-thia-4,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,5]non-7-ene by hydrogen peroxide in hexafluoro-iso-propanol solvent resulted in formation of the corresponding sulfoxide however, the reaction with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid produced the product of exhaustive oxidation of sulfur and the double bond. In sharp contrast, the oxidation of 5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-6-thia-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-6-thia-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene by MCPBA (2d, 25 °C) proceeds with the preservation of the double bond, leading to the selective formation of the corresponding sulfones.     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Hydrogen Peroxide on Poly(m‐toluidine)‐Nickel Modified Carbon Paste Electrode in Alkaline Medium

The poly(m‐toluidine) film was prepared by using the repeated potential cycling technique in an acidic solution at the surface of carbon paste electrode. Then transition metal ions of Ni(II) were incorporated to the polymer by immersion of the modified electrode in a 0.2 M NiSO₄, also the electrochemical characterization of this modified electrode exhibits stable redox behavior of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple. The electrocatalytic ability of Ni(II)/poly(m‐toluidine)/modified carbon paste electrode (Ni/PMT/MCPE) was demonstrated by electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrogen peroxide with cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry methods in the alkaline solution. The effects of scan rate and hydrogen peroxide concentration on the anodic peak height of hydrogen peroxide oxidation were also investigated. The catalytic oxidation peak current showed two linear ranges with different slopes dependent on the hydrogen peroxide concentration and the lower detection limit was 6.5 μM (S/N=3). The catalytic reaction rate constant, (k_h), was calculated 5.5×10² M^?1 s^?1 by the data of chronoamperometry. This modified electrode has many advantages such as simple preparation procedure, good reproducibility and high catalytic activity toward the hydrogen peroxide oxidation. This method was also applied as a simple method for routine control and can be employed directly without any pretreatment or separation for analysis cosmetics products.     

Influence of Zn(II) adsorption on the photocatalytic activity and the production of H2O2 over irradiated TiO2

The photocatalytic activity of semiconductor oxides, in particular TiO₂ powders or colloids, is a complex function of bulk (light absorption and scattering, charge carrier mobility and recombination rate) and surface (structure, defects and reconstruction, charge, presence of adsorbate, surface recombination centers) properties. Among surface modifications, the inner sphere surface complexation of metal cations can change the surface charge of the metal oxide, thus changing the surface activity coefficient of ionic substrates, the band edge positions, as well as the mechanism and kinetic of interfacial electron transfer by blocking surface trapping sites for photogenerated carriers (≡Ti?OH). In this work we show that in anatase/water systems under band-gap irradiation, both the organic substrate (formate) oxidation initiated by photogenerated valence band holes and the formation of hydrogen peroxide from O₂ reduction (by conduction band electrons) is strongly influenced by the presence of Zn²⁺ cations. Depending on the pH, the formate oxidation rate can be enhanced or nearly completely inhibited. The observed result can be rationalized by considering the fraction of ≡Ti?OH surface sites blocked by inner sphere complexation of Zn²⁺ as a function of pH. When this fraction is low, the more positive surface charge favors formate oxidation, whereas when the fraction is high the almost complete blockage of ≡Ti?OH surface sites by Zn²⁺ stops almost entirely formate oxidation. Interestingly, the surface complexation of Zn²⁺ is accompanied by an increasing production of H₂O₂ during formate degradation in the presence of O₂. Zn(II) cations are not complexed by peroxide/superoxide species derived from O₂ reduction. When ≡Ti?OH sites are blocked by Zn²⁺, the complexation on the TiO₂ surface of peroxide/superoxide species is inhibited, hindering their further transformation. The results presented demonstrate that the combined effect of pH and surface complexation of redox inert cations greatly influences both the oxidative and reductive processes during the photocatalytic process over TiO₂.     

A new process for preparing dialdehyde by catalytic oxidation of cyclic olefins with aqueous hydrogen peroxide

A. novel peroxo-niobophosphate was synthesized for the first time and used as a catalyst in the oxidation reaction of cyclic olefins with aqueous hydrogen peroxide to prepare dialdehy-des. The catalyst was characterized by elemental analysis, thermographic analyses, IR, UV/vis, 31P NMR and XPS spectra as [ π-C5H5N(CH2 )13 CH3 ]2 [ Nb4O6 (O2 )2 (PO4 )2 ] ·6H2O (PTNP). It showed high selectivity to glutaraldehyde in the catalytic oxidation of cyclopentene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide in ethanol.     

Direct Synthesis in the Undergraduate Laboratory: Synthesis of Copper Complexes from Zero-Valent Metals as a Demonstration of Base-Catalyzed Direct Synthesis

Direct synthesis is an important and active research field for scientists and technologists involved with the use of elemental metals. An undergraduate laboratory demonstration is presented that exposes students to this important synthetic technique. The direct synthesis of [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺ and [Cu(en)₂]²⁺ complexes in aqueous solution from zero-valent Cu metal is employed as an experiment illustrating the oxidizing properties of alkaline hydrogen peroxide solutions. The experiment also shows the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by the copper complexes. Finally, students can learn that the direct oxidation of metallic copper by alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution is an efficient and novel alternative approach to synthesize these and other copper complexes.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of nickel amalgam in aqueous solutions of halogen and pseudohalogen ions

The voltammetric oxidation of nickel amalgam from the hanging mercury drop electrode in aqueous solutions of F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, N₃^?, SCN^?, and ClO₄^? ions have been investigated. Concentrations of these anions were sufficiently low to depress the formation of complexes with nickel(II) in the bulk of the solution.An increase in the rate of anodic oxidation with increase of concentration of anions was observed both without and with correction for the φ₂ potential. This increase is explained as due to a catalytic effect of anions adsorbed on the electrode surface.Using the concept of changes of the activity coefficient of the activated complex it was possible to show that the oxidation of the nickel amalgam in thiocyanates and azides proceeds by the formation of the activated complex with bound SCN^? and N₃^? anions. These complexes form only in the activated state and decompose when products leave the double layer.In chlorides and bromides a similar mechanism is suggested only at larger surface concentration of anions. At lower surface concentration and in iodides the oxidation proceeds by the activated complex with no anions bound to the nickel, only long-range interactions of adsorbed anions with activated complex then exist.The order of these electrode reactions was calculated using the concept of the surface activity.The two-step mechanism of the charge transfer is also discussed.     

Oxidation of alkanes and alcohols with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by complex Os3(CO)10(µ‐H)2

Trinuclear carbonyl hydride cluster, Os₃(CO)₁₀(µ‐H)₂, catalyzes oxidation of cyclooctane to cyclooctyl hydroperoxide by hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile solution. The hydroperoxide partly decomposes in the course of the reaction to afford cyclooctanone and cyclooctanol. Selectivity parameters obtained in oxidations of various linear and branched alkanes as well as kinetic features of the reaction indicated that the alkane oxidation occurs with the participation of hydroxyl radicals. A similar mechanism operates in transformation of benzene into phenol and styrene into benzaldehyde. The system also oxidizes 1‐phenylethanol to acetophenone. The kinetic study led to a conclusion that oxidation of alcohols does not involve hydroxyl radicals as main oxidizing species and apparently proceeds with the participation of osmyl species, ‘Os?O’. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

N,N-Ethylene-bridged flavinium salts derived from l-valinol: synthesis and catalytic activity in H2O2 oxidations

Three chiral N¹,N¹⁰-ethylene-bridged flavinium salts with a stereogenic centre derived from l-valinol are prepared and investigated as oxidation catalysts. These salts efficiently catalyse chemoselective H₂O₂ oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and the oxidation of 3-phenylcyclobutanone to the corresponding lactone at room temperature. The flavinium salts react with hydrogen peroxide to form flavin-10a-hydroperoxide, which is the agent responsible for oxidation of the substrate.     

Catalytic properties of the polyoxometalate [Ti2(OH)2As2W19O67(H2O)]8? in selective oxidations with hydrogen peroxide

The catalytic properties of the sandwich polyoxometalate [Ti₂(OH)₂As₂W₁₉O₆₇(H₂O)]⁸⁻, which contains two (B-α-As^IIIW₉O₃₃) fragments linked together by a “belt” consisting of one octahedral WO(H₂O)⁴⁺ and two square-pyramidal Ti(OH)³⁺ groups, have been investigated in the selective liquid-phase oxidation of organic compounds by aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The polyoxometalate shows high catalytic activity and selectivity in the oxidation of alkenes, alcohols, diols, and thioethers. The composition of the reaction products indicates that hydrogen peroxide is activated via a heterolytic mechanism.     

Anodic oxidation of p-But-calix[4]arene-(OH)2-(OCH2CONEt2)2. Electrogeneration of a calixdiquinone in dichloromethane

The electrochemical oxidation of p-Bu^t-calix[4]arene-(OH)₂-(OCH₂CONEt₂)₂ 1 has been investigated for the first time and was shown to result in the formation of the corresponding diquinone 3. The reaction proceeds via two successive two-electron irreversible oxidation steps both governed by an ECE mechanism. Alkali cations recognition can be realized by exhaustive oxidation of 1 in the presence of alkali salts.     

Applications involving oxidation with KBrO3: Potentiometric determination of some inorganic white and yellow pigments

Rapid potentiometric methods were given for determination of some sulfide and chromate pigments in pure as well as adulterated samples. The methods are based on oxidation of S^2? or Cr³⁺ with known excess of KBrOs³ to the corresponding (S ↓) or Cr^6?. Oxidation of trivalent chromium proceeds only toward completion in presence of a catalyst such as Co²⁺. Sulfide oxidation needs gradual liberation of H₂S—which can be achieved by dropwise additions of the acid—together with the presence of excessive amount of water, in order to obtain accurate results excess oxidant was subsequently reduced with SO₂ to produce Br^? that can be titrated against Hg(I). The potential breaks are quite sharp for accurate determination of the equivalent points.     

Kinetics of the Oxidation of Methyl Phenyl Sulfide by Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of Hydrocarbonate Anion

The oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide in water and water-alcohol mixtures takes place both by a noncatalytic mechanism and with the participation of hydrogen peroxide as catalyst; in the presence of ammonium hydrocarbonate it takes place by a mechanism involving HCO ₄ ⁻ as a more active oxidant than hydrogen peroxide (>100 times). In water-alcohol media (ethylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, tert-butanol) the rate decreases in the order H₂O > EG > IPA > TBA. The reactivity of organic sulfides varies in the following way: MeSPh ≈ EtSPh << Et₂S. The results were interpreted from the standpoint of a molecular mechanism of oxidation of the sulfide with H₂O₂ and HCO ₄ ⁻ through a polar transition state, containing the HOX molecule (X = H, OH, OR) as acid-base catalyst.__________Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Eksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 94–99, March–April, 2005.     

Outer-sphere oxidation of ascorbate with os(bpy)33+ incorporated in nafion coatings on graphite electrodes

The electro-oxidation of ascorbate proceeds very slowly at graphite electrodes coated with Nafion. Incorporation of Os(bpy)₃²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) in the coating produces a catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate at potentials where Os(bpy)₃²⁺ is oxidized to Os(bpy)₃³⁺. Analysis of the kinetic data demonstrates that the reaction between catalyst (Os(bpy)₃³⁺) and substrate (ascorbate) proceeds only within the outermost layer of the coating at the coating/solution interface. As the substrate concentration is increased, the limiting oxidation currents at coated rotating disk electrodes do not increase as rapidly as expected on the basis of current models of the behavior of polymer coated electrodes. Some possible reasons for this deviant behavior of cast Nafion coatings are suggested. Some implications of the results on the general utility of Nafion-coated electrodes in electro-catalytic applications are presented.