Homogeneous oxidation kinetics of aqueous ferrous iron at circumneutral pH

Oxidation of aqueous Fe(II) was investigated at circumneutral pH and 23°C in the absence of ligands (other than H₂O, OH^–, and Cl^–) and catalysts (e.g., microbes or solids surfaces). Enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) were used as specific catalytic probes to determine whether superoxide and hydrogen peroxide are intermediates in oxygen reduction by Fe(II). The kinetic evidence suggests that Fe(II) and D.O. react in a termolecular transition state complex, the reaction produces hydrogen peroxide (probably without intermediation by superoxide), and Fe(II) and H₂O₂ react in a termolecular reaction or in a two-step sequence of bimolecular reactions. The rate data permit modeling the overall Fe(II) oxidation reaction at pH7.0 with a rate law that has non-integer orders with respect to [Fe(II)] and [OH^–].     

Kinetics of hydrogen peroxide decomposition with complexed and “free” iron catalysts

The hydrogen peroxide decomposition kinetics were investigated for both “free” iron catalyst [Fe(II) and Fe(III)] and complexed iron catalyst [Fe(II) and Fe(III)] complexed with DTPA, EDTA, EGTA, and NTA as ligands (L). A kinetic model for free iron catalyst was derived assuming the formation of a reversible complex (Fe–HO₂), followed by an irreversible decomposition and using the pseudo‐steady‐state hypothesis (PSSH). This resulted in a first‐order rate at low H₂O₂ concentrations and a zero order rate at high H₂O₂ concentrations. The rate constants were determined using the method of initial rates of hydrogen peroxide decomposition. Complexed iron catalysts extend the region of significant activity to pH 2–10 vs. 2–4 for Fenton's reagent (free iron catalyst). A rate expression for Fe(III) complexes was derived using a mechanism similar to that of free iron, except that a L–Fe–HO₂ complex was reversibly formed, and subsequently decayed irreversibly into products. The pH plays a major role in the decomposition rate and was incorporated into the rate law by considering the metal complex specie, that is, EDTA–Fe–H, EDTA–Fe–(H₂O), EDTA–Fe–(OH), or EDTA–Fe–(OH)₂, as a separate complex with its unique kinetic coefficients. A model was then developed to describe the decomposition of H₂O₂ from pH 2–10 (initial rates = 1 × 10⁻⁴ to 1 × 10⁻⁷ M/s). In the neutral pH range (pH 6–9), the complexed iron catalyzed reactions still exhibited significant rates of reaction. At low pH, the Fe(II) was mostly uncomplexed and in the free form. The rate constants for the Fe(III)–L complexes are strongly dependent on the stability constant, K_ML, for the Fe(III)–L complex. The rates of reaction were in descending order NTA > EGTA > EDTA > DTPA, which are consistent with the respective log K_MLs for the Fe(III) complexes. Because the method of initial rates was used, the mechanism does not include the subsequent reactions, which may occur. For the complexed iron systems, the peroxide also attacks the chelating agent and by‐product‐complexing reactions occur. Accordingly, the model is valid only in the initial stages of reaction for the complexed system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 24–35, 2000     

Novel iron(III) porphyrazine complex. Complex speciation and reactions with NO and H2O2

The complex [iron(III) (octaphenylsulfonato)porphyrazine] (5-), Fe (III)(Pz), was synthesized. The p K a values of the axially coordinated water molecules were determined spectrophotometrically and found to be p K a 1 = 7.50 +/- 0.02 and p K a 2 = 11.16 +/- 0.06. The water exchange reaction studied by (17)O NMR as a function of the pH was fast at pH = 1, k ex = (9.8 +/- 0.6) x 10 (6) s (-1) at 25 degrees C, and too fast to be measured at pH = 10, whereas at pH = 13, no water exchange reaction occurred. The equilibrium between mono- and diaqua Fe (III)(Pz) complexes was studied at acidic pH as a function of the temperature and pressure. Complex-formation equilibria with different nucleophiles (Br (-) and pyrazole) were studied in order to distinguish between a five- (in the case of Br (-)) or six-coordinate (in the case of pyrazole) iron(III) center. The kinetics of the reaction of Fe (III)(Pz) with NO was studied as a model ligand substitution reaction at various pH values. The mechanism observed is analogous to the one observed for iron(III) porphyrins and follows an I d mechanism. The product is (Pz)Fe (II)NO (+), and subsequent reductive nitrosylation usually takes place when other nucleophiles like OH (-) or buffer ions are present in solution. Fe (III)(Pz) also activates hydrogen peroxide. Kinetic data for the direct reaction of hydrogen peroxide with the complex clearly indicate the occurrence of more than one reaction step. Kinetic data for the catalytic decomposition of the dye Orange II by H 2O 2 in the presence of Fe (III)(Pz) imply that a catalytic oxidation cycle is initiated. The peroxide molecule first coordinates to the iron(III) center to produce the active catalytic species, which immediately oxidizes the substrate. The influence of the catalyst, oxidant, and substrate concentrations on the reaction rate was studied in detail as a function of the pH. The rate increases with increasing catalyst and peroxide concentrations but decreases with increasing substrate concentration. At low pH, the oxidation of the substrate is not complete because of catalyst decomposition. The observed kinetic traces at pH = 10 and 12 for the catalytic cycle could be simulated on the basis of the obtained kinetic data and the proposed reaction cycle. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulated ones.     

Solid State Conductivity and Catalytic Activity of Hexacyanoferrate(II)–Thiosemicarbazide Complexes of 3d-Metals

The temperature dependence of the resistivity of tablets of hexacyanoferrate(II)–thiosemicarbazide complexes of chromium(III), manganese(II), iron(III), cobalt(III), nickel(II), copper(II), and zinc(II) was measured in the range 20-90 °C. A relationship between the conductivity of a substance and the rate constant for the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is established.     

Simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) by kinetic spectrophotometric H-point standard addition method

The H-point standard addition method (HPSAM) for simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) is described. The method is based on the difference in the rate of complex formation of iron in two different oxidation states with Gallic acid (GA) at pH 5. Fe(II) and Fe(III) can be determined in the range of 0.02–4.50 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.05–5.00 μg ml⁻¹, respectively, with satisfactory accuracy and precision in the presence of other metal ions, which rapidly form complexes with GA under working conditions. The proposed method was successfully applied for simultaneous determination of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in several environmental and synthetic samples with different concentration ratios of Fe(II) and Fe(III).     

A new dinuclear heme-copper complex derived from functionalized protoporphyrin IX

A new biomimetic model for the heterodinuclear heme/copper center of respiratory oxidases is described. It is derived from iron(III) protoporphyrin IX by covalent attachment of a Gly-L-His-OMe residue to one propionic acid substituent and an amino-bis(benzimidazole) residue to the other propionic acid substituent of the porphyrin ring, yielding the Fe(III) complex 1, and subsequent addition of a copper(II) or copper(I) ion, according to needs. The fully oxidized Fe(III)/Cu(II) complex, 2, binds azide more strongly than 1, and likely contains azide bound as a bridging ligand between Fe(III) and Cu(II). The two metal centers also cooperate in the reaction with hydrogen peroxide, as the peroxide adducts obtained at low temperature for 1 and 2 display different optical features. Support to this interpretation comes from the investigation of the peroxidase activity of the complexes, where the activation of hydrogen peroxide has been studied through the phenol coupling reaction of p-cresol. Here the presence of Cu(II) improves the catalytic performance of complex 2 with respect to 1 at acidic pH, where the positive charge of the Cu(II) ion is useful to promote O-O bond cleavage of the iron-bound hydroperoxide, but it depresses the activity at basic pH because it can stabilize an intramolecular hydroxo bridge between Fe(III) and Cu(II). The reactivity to dioxygen of the reduced complexes has been studied at low temperature starting from the carbonyl adducts of the Fe(II) complex, 3, and Fe(II)/Cu(I) complex, 4. Also in this case the adducts derived from the Fe(II) and Fe(II)/Cu(I) complexes, that we formulate as Fe(III)-superoxo and Fe(III)/Cu(II)-peroxo exhibit slightly different spectral properties, showing that the copper center participates in a weak interaction with the dioxygen moiety.     

Catalytic activity of Cu(II)–poly(vinyl alcohol) complex for decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was examined was examined by using Cu(II)–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as catalyst. The rates of decomposition were measured. Electronic spectra and infrared spectra of Cu(II)–PVA complex systems were determined at various stages of decomposition. Effect of addition of various amines to the Cu(II)–PVA system on catalytic action was considered. The relation between the initial rate and the initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide varied in accordance with the rate expression of Michaelis-Menten type. Cu(II)–PVA complex was found to have a large catalytic activity, while the polymeric PVA ligand and copper(II) ion exhibited less activity than Cu(II)–PVA complex. For hydrogen peroxide decomposition, Cu(II)–PVA complex showed catalytic activity when a stable complex of planar structure formed, while many other polymer complexes reported by other authors showed the catalytic activity when they were in unstable complex forms. An amine substituent has a critical influence on the rate of hydrogen peroxide decomposition. The mechanism in the first step of reaction for hydrogen peroxide decomposition is discussed.     

Interaction between peroxide ion and phenol group which are coordinated to the same iron(III) ion

We have prepared several new iron(III) complexes with ligands which contain a phenol group; these are tetradentate [(X-phpy)H, X and H(phpy) represent the substituents on the phenol ring and N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)amine, respectively] and pentadentate ligands [(R-enph-X)H; R=ethyl(Et) or methyl(Me) derivative and H(Me-enph) denotes N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N″-methyl-N″-(2″-hydroxyl-benzylamine)ethylenediamine] and have determined the crystal structures of Fe(phpy)Cl₂, Fe(5-NO₂-phpy)Cl₂, and Fe(Me-enph)ClPF₆, which are of a mononuclear six-coordinate iron(III) complex with coordination of one or two chloride ion(s). These compounds are highly colored (dark violet) due to the coordination of phenol group to an iron(III) atom. When hydrogen peroxide was added to the solution of the iron(III) complex, a color change occurs with bleaching of the violet color, indicating that oxidative degradation of the phenol moiety occurred in the ligand system. The bleaching of the violet color was also observed by the addition of t-butylhydroperoxide. The rate of the disappearance of the violet color is highly dependent on the substituent on the phenol ring; introduction of an electron-withdrawing group in the phenol ring decreases the rate of bleaching, suggesting that disappearance of the violet band should be due to a chemical reaction between the phenol group and a peroxide adduct of the iron(III) species with an η¹-coordination mode and that in this reaction the peroxide adduct acts as an electrophile towards phenol ring. The intramolecular interaction between the phenol moiety and an iron(III)-peroxide adduct may induce activation of the peroxide ion, and this was supported by several facts that the solution containing an iron(III) complex and hydrogen peroxide exhibits high activities for degradation of nucleosides and albumin.     

CATALASE MIMIC WITH Fe (II) METALLOMICELLE

The effect of Fe (II) metallomicelle as a model of catalase, which was formed by adding surfactants (CTAB, SDS, LSS, Brij35) in Fe (II) -trien complex of molar ratios 1: 500 on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was investigated at 20°C and 30°C in pH 10 using KI-color and UV Spectrophotometry. A kinetic model for metallomicellar catalysis was proposed. The association constant of the ternary complex K and the rate constant of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide k3 were obtained. The results indicate that the metallomicelles making up of Fe (II) metal complex and cationic or nonionic surfactants have obvious catalysis on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, but the metallomicelles making up of Fe (II) metal complex and anionic or zwitterionic surfactants have inhibition on this reaction.     

Efficient epoxidation reaction of terminal olefins with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by an iron (II) complex

A highly active iron (II) complex that catalyzed epoxidation of terminal olefins with hydrogen peroxide was described. The catalytic system displayed excellent catalytic ability for the selective oxidation of terminal olefins to epoxides with high selectivity (up to 97.8%) in CH₃CN at 25?°C. The catalytic activity of three similarly structural iron (II) complexes was comparatively studied. The effect of various auxiliary ligands on epoxidation was investigated in detail.     

Oxidation of alkenes with non-heme iron complexes: suitability as an organic synthetic method

In the course of a preliminary study to determine the preparative value and the synthetic applications of the non-heme iron(II) complexes Fe(bpmen)(OTf)₂ and Fe(tpa)(OTf)₂, in particular the oxidation of alkenes by using hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant, we have found significant differences in catalyst behavior. After several attempts it was clear that the preparative relevance of the oxidation processes was linked to the concentration of the catalyst and optimal results were obtained when the concentration value was 5 mol %. At that concentration, the Fe(bpmen)(OTf)₂ catalyst mostly gave rise to mixtures of the epoxide and the trans-dihydroxylation products formed by water-assisted hydrolytic cleavage of the epoxides. Furthermore, the use of the tripodal ligand tpa led to cis dihydroxylation products. When deactivated olefins were used as substrates for the oxidation reaction, the cis-diols were obtained exclusively, although with modest conversions, regardless of the catalyst used.     

Determination of hydrogen peroxide by iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified ion-exchanger with peroxidase-like catalytic activity.

An iron(III) complex of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate on a modified anion-exchanger (Fe3+-TCAS(A-500)) has shown high peroxidase-like activity at pH 5 - 6 for the reaction of quinoid-dye formation between 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone and N-(3-sulfopropyl)aniline in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Utilizing the peroxidase-like activity of Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) for this reaction, a method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide. The calibration curve by the method using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was linear over the range from 1 to 10 microg of hydrogen peroxide in a 1 ml sample solution. The apparent molar absorptivity for hydrogen peroxide was 2.4 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). which was about 80% of that by peroxidase under the same conditions. This determination method of hydrogen peroxide using Fe3+-TCAS(A-500) was applied for the determination of glucose in diluted normal and abnormal control serum I and II.     

A new kinetic photometric method for the simultaneous determination of metals based on catalytic and activating effects

Summary The potential use of the activating effect of Pb(II) on the Mn(II)-catalysed oxidation of Tiron by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline for the simultaneous determination of the two metals was investigated. The results obtained allowed the development of a new kinetic photometric method for the simultaneous determination of Pb(II) and Mn(II). The catalysed reaction was monitored by the initial rate method, which was applied to absorbance-time curves. Different Mn(II) concentrations were used to construct calibration graphs by plotting the slopes of the photometric curves obtained against the Mn(II) concentration at each Pb(II) concentration assayed. A new calibration graph was obtained in terms of the Pb(II) concentration from the slopes of such graphs. By applying the standard-addition method to the sample to be assayed a third graph was obtained, the slope and intercept of which provided the analytical concentration of Pb(II) and Mn(II), respectively. The optimized values of the different variables involved were used to determine Mn(II) and Pb(II) over the concentration ranges 1–5 and 200–800 ng/ml, respectively.     

Oxidation of azo dye Orange II with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(diethylmethylammonio)phenyl]porphyrinato-cobalt(II)tetraiodide in aqueous solution

The catalytic oxidation of the azo dye Orange II by hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution has been investigated using 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-[4-(diethylmethylammonio)phenyl]porphyrinato-cobalt(II) tetra iodide 1as catalyst. The oxidation reaction was followed by recording the UV–vis spectra of the reaction mixture with time at λ_max = 485 nm. The factors that may influence the oxidation of Orange II, such as the effect of reaction temperature, concentration of catalyst, hydrogen peroxide and orange II have been studied. The results of total organic carbon analysis showed 52% of dye mineralization under mild reaction conditions. Residual organic compounds in the reaction mixture were identified by using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The decolorization rate and mineralization of the dye has been found to increase with increase of catalyst concentration and reaction temperature. The rate of dye oxidation decreased with increasing the concentration of dye, H₂O₂ and at higher pH than 9. Radical scavenging measurement indicated that decolorization of Orange II by H₂O₂/cobalt (II) porphyrin complex 1 involved the formation of hydroxyl radicals as the active species.     

A Comparative Study of Catalysis by Zeolite Encapsulated and Neat Copper o-Phenylenediamine Complexes towards Oxidation of Catechol and 3,5-di-tert-Butylcatechol Using Hydrogen Peroxide1

The kinetics of hydrogen peroxide oxidation of catechol (CAT) and 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (DTBC) using neat as well as zeolite encapsulated copper complexes of o-phenylenediamine as catalysts have been investigated by a novel UV-visible spectrophotometric technique. The order with respect to the substrate, hydrogen peroxide, as well as the catalyst was unity for all the reactions. This indicates that the mechanism of the reaction is unaltered by encapsulation of the complex although considerable difference exists in the rate of catalysis. The effects of polarity and pH on the reaction were found to be different for the four reactions, suggesting the existence of a deprotonation equilibria for the catalysts in addition to those for the substrates. The rate of oxidation of DTBC was more than that of catechol in the presence of both the catalysts signifying that the inductive effect dominates over the steric constraints in this case. The present work allowed the determination of the acid dissociation constants of Cu(OPD)₂ and YCu(OPD)₂ in 1 : 9 methanol–water mixtures.     

Polymer Supported Schiff Base Complexes of Iron(III), Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Ions and their Catalytic Activity in Oxidation of Phenol and Cyclohexene

The polymer supported transition metal complexes of N,N′‐bis (o‐hydroxy acetophenone) hydrazine (HPHZ) Schiff base were prepared by immobilization of N,N′‐bis(4‐amino‐o‐hydroxyacetophenone)hydrazine (AHPHZ) Schiff base on chloromethylated polystyrene beads of a constant degree of crosslinking and then loading iron(III), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions in methanol. The complexation of polymer anchored HPHZ Schiff base with iron(III), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions was 83.30%, 84.20% and 87.80%, respectively, whereas with unsupported HPHZ Schiff base, the complexation of these metal ions was 80.3%, 79.90% and 85.63%. The unsupported and polymer supported metal complexes were characterized for their structures using I.R, UV and elemental analysis. The iron(III) complexes of HPHZ Schiff base were octahedral in geometry, whereas cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes showed square planar structures as supported by UV and magnetic measurements. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of HPHZ Schiff base and its metal complexes was used to analyze the variation in thermal stability of HPHZ Schiff base on complexation with metal ions. The HPHZ Schiff base showed a weight loss of 58% at 500°C, but its iron(III), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions complexes have shown a weight loss of 30%, 52% and 45% at same temperature. The catalytic activity of metal complexes was tested by studying the oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene in presence of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. The supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions showed 64.0% conversion for phenol and 81.3% conversion for cyclohexene at a molar ratio of 1∶1∶1 of substrate to catalyst and hydrogen peroxide, but unsupported complexes of iron(III) ions showed 55.5% conversion for phenol and 66.4% conversion for cyclohexene at 1∶1∶1 molar ratio of substrate to catalyst and hydrogen peroxide. The product selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) was 90.5% and 96.5% with supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions, but was found to be low with cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions complexes of Schiff base. The selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) was different with studied metal ions and varied with molar ratio of metal ions in the reaction mixture. The selectivity was constant on varying the molar ratio of hydrogen peroxide and substrate. The energy of activation for epoxidation of cyclohexene and phenol conversion in presence of polymer supported HPHZ Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions was 8.9 kJ mol^?1 and 22.8 kJ mol^?1, respectively, but was high with Schiff base complexes of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions and with unsupported Schiff base complexes.     

Cyclodextrins for remediation of soils contaminated with chlorinated organics

The effect of random methylated ??CD (RAMEB) on the efficiency of various remediation technologies was studied in lab-scale model-experiments applying soil and groundwater originating from a site contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). The solubility of TCE was enhanced to tenfold in 10% solution of RAMEB compared to that in water. This solubilizing effect was utilized for remediation of the TCE contaminated soil using enhanced groundwater extraction and in situ TCE oxidation by ISCO (= in situ chemical oxidation). The effect of CD on TCE extraction from soil was studied using two technologies: ground-water extraction followed by air stripping or UV irradiation. The RAMEB-enhanced ISCO was applied directly to the water-saturated soil without water extraction or separation. The efficiency of air stripping of TCE (removal by bubbling air through the contaminated ground-water obtained by extraction) was decreased in the presence of RAMEB due to the volatility decreasing effect of complexation. The efficiency of the entire technology (extraction and air stripping together) was, however, enhanced as three times more TCE was dissolved, and more than twice as much could be removed when 5% RAMEB solution was applied instead of water. Similar results were obtained by UV irradiation. Although the complexation has a protective effect against degradation caused by irradiation, the efficiency of the technology (extraction and subsequent UV irradiation) is enhanced to approximately threefold, because more than 10 times higher TCE concentration was found in the extract using 20% RAMEB concentration. ISCO is based on Fe-catalyzed oxidation using hydrogen peroxide. The catalytic effect of RAMEB was observed only when it was applied together with Fe(II) salts. Without Fe(II) the effect of complex formation dominated. When hydrogen peroxide and FeSO₄ were applied with RAMEB, over five times enhancement in TCE removal was obtained compared to the technology based on the addition of hydrogen peroxide and Fe(II) salts without RAMEB. This effect shows that the solubilizing effect on iron catalyst is at least as much or even more important than the solubilizing effect on TCE. The ternary complex formation with ferrous/ferric ion and TCE seems to be responsible for the enhanced efficacy.     

Formation of cobaltic complexes by oxidation with potassium peroxymonosulfate in spectrophotometric determination of cobalt

Summary The oxidation of cobaltous complexes of amino-polycarboxylic acids to their corresponding cobaltic complexes with potassium peroxymonosulfate has been studied for simple spectrophotometric determination of 10–100 ppm of cobalt. The color reactions for cobalt are highly selective. Their molar absorptivities (200–300) and reduction potentials (about 0.45 v.) have been determined. The reactions are similar to that with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant reported previously, but the peroxymonosulfate method has advantages over hydrogen peroxide because of no disturbance of gas bubbles, better stable color reactions, and elimination of ferric ion interference. The use of peroxymonosulfate as an oxidant for cobalt complexes of other ligands is also discussed.

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Herstellung von Kobalt(III)-Komplexen durch Oxydation mit Kaliumperoxymonosulfat zur spektrophotometrischen Bestimmung von Kobalt

Zusammenfassung Die Oxydation von Kobalt(II)komplexen der Aminopolycarbonsäuren mit Kaliumperoxymonosulfat wurde zwecks spektrophotometrischer Bestimmung von 10–100 ppm Kobalt untersucht. Die Farbreaktionen sind sehr selektiv. Ihre molare Extinktion (200–300) und ihr Reduktionspotential (etwa 0,45 V) wurden bestimmt. Gegenüber dem früher verwendeten Wasserstoffperoxid hat das Peroxymonosulfat den Vorteil, daß es keine Gasblasen bildet, daß die Farbreaktionen stabiler sind und daß Fe(III) nicht stört. Seine Verwendung auch für andere Kobaltkomplexe wurde diskutiert.

     

Kinetics and mechanisms of decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide in presence of metal complexes

Hydrogen peroxide was discovered in 1818 and has been used in bleaching for over a century [ 1 ]. H₂O₂ on its own is a relatively weak oxidant under mild conditions: It can achieve some oxidations unaided, but for the majority of applications it requires activation in one way or another. Some activation methods, e.g., Fenton's reagent, are almost as old [ 2 ]. However, by far the bulk of useful chemistry has been discovered in the last 50 years, and many catalytic methods are much more recent. Although the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is often employed as a standard reaction to determine the catalytic activity of metal complexes and metal oxides [ 3 , 4 ], it has recently been extensively used in intrinsically clean processes and in end‐of‐pipe treatment of effluent of chemical industries [ 5 , 6 ]. Furthermore, the adoption of H₂O₂ as an alternative of current industrial oxidation processes offer environmental advantages, some of which are (1) replacement of stoichiometric metal oxidants, (2) replacement of halogens, (3) replacement or reduction of solvent usage, and (4) avoidance of salt by‐products. On the other hand, wasteful decomposition of hydrogen peroxide due to trace transition metals in wash water in the fabric bleach industry, was also recognized [ 7 ]. The low intrinsic reactivity of H₂O₂ is actually an advantage, in that a method can be chosen which selectively activates it to perform a given oxidation. There are three main active oxidants derived from hydrogen peroxide, depending on the nature of the activator; they are (1) inorganic oxidant systems, (2) active oxygen species, and (3) per oxygen intermediates. Two general types of mechanisms have been postulated for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of transition metal complexes. The first is the radical mechanism (outer sphere), which was proposed by Haber and Weiss for the Fe(III)‐H₂O₂ system [ 8 ]. The key features of this mechanism were the discrete formation of hydroxyl and hydroperoxy radicals, which can form a redox cycle with the Fe(II)/Fe(III) couple. The second is the peroxide complex mechanism, which was proposed by Kremer and Stein [ 9 ]. The significant difference in the peroxide complex mechanism is the two‐electron oxidation of Fe(III) to Fe(V) with the resulting breaking of the peroxide oxygen‐oxygen bond. It is our intention in this article to briefly summarize the kinetics as well as the mechanisms of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, homogeneously and heterogeneously, in the presence of transition metal complexes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 643–666, 2000