Synthesis and characterization of new synthetic oxygen carriers. A kinetic study of the reaction of the binuclear iron(III)–copper(II) complex with H2O2

New oxygen carriers have been synthesized by the interaction of the Cu^II/Ni^II derivative of the bis(5-nitroindazolyl)methane complex with 14-membered 1,8-dihydro-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane (M-mac), where M=Fe^III, Ni^II, Co^II, to yield binuclear complexes. These complexes have been characterized by physico-chemical methods: elemental analysis, i.r., ¹H-n.m.r., ¹³C-n.m.r., 2D cosy n.m.r., e.p.r., u.v.–vis. spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. A representative binuclear Fe^III–Cu^II complex was chosen to interact with H₂O₂ to elucidate the mechanistic pathway of oxygen binding in solution spectrophotometrically, and also by cyclic voltammetry. Hydrogen peroxide exhibits two mechanisms for binding, either (i) homolysis or (ii) heterolytic cleavage. The mode of H₂O₂ binding can be hazardous in (i) due to the threat of oxidative damage to the cellular structure, proteins and metabolites, or eco-friendly as in (ii) which produces innocuous products such as water and dioxygen. This study aims to combat the problems associated with H₂O₂ binding in nature by producing a parallel study on model compounds.