Metal Ion Catalyzed Autoxidation of Sulfur(IV)-Oxides: Redox Cycling of Metal Ions Induced by Sulfite

Iron-Catalyzed Oxidation of Sulfite: From Established Results to a New Understanding

A survey is made of the iron-catalyzed oxidation of sulfite describing a conceptual framework to explain the key processes involved, with a focus on kinetics. Perhaps most importantly, the incorporation of the HSO5- + Fe(II) step into the regeneration of catalytically active ferric ions which does not deplete its role over the iron redox cycle. The radical-radical recombination SO5-• + SO5-•, which terminates the cycling between ferric and ferrous ions, represents a gross but not a net loss of the chain-carriers, because nearly all of them are reformed through the branching step HSO5- + Fe(II) → Fe2+ + H2O + SO4-•, [Formula: see text] in just a few seconds or somewhat longer. A branching mechanism is thus the only possible means of allowing the catalytic process to reach a stationary state. Observations that may be considered as evidence (fingerprints) of rate variations in sulfite depletion due to the branching mechanism are explored in detail, and the related dynamics of the chain-carriers and metal ions cycles are discussed. In particular, the most important is found to be the aspect related to the intrinsic limitation of the cycle of metal ions. This limitation governs the extent of the oxidative/reducing potential of sulfite solutions with respect to the Fe(III/II) couple, thereby governing the quasi-state partioning between ferric and ferrous ions. Such a view enables examination of those conditions under which the limitation to the rate of the catalytic reaction is controlled by the reduction or re-oxidation of ferric ions. Readily applicable kinetic criteria and kinetic diagrams to delimit the conditions are given. In such a framework, the majority of known anomalies of the catalytic reaction receive an explanation.

A glassy carbon electrode modified by a triply-fused-like Co(ii) polyporphine and its ability for sulphite oxidation and detection

An original Co(ii) porphyrin conductive polymer is electrosynthesized which efficiently catalyzes sulphite oxidation in water offering opportunities for sensor development.

Highly Efficient Photoinitiation in the Cerium(III)-Catalyzed Aqueous Autoxidation of Sulfur(IV). An Example of Comprehensive Evaluation of Photoinduced Chain Reacions

The photoinitiated and cerium(III)-catalyzed aqueous reaction between sulfite ion and oxygen has been studied in a diode-array spectrophotometer using the same light beam for excitation and detection. Cerium(III) is identified as the photoactive absorbing species, and the production of cerium(IV) initiates a radical chain reaction. To interpret all the experimental findings, a simple scheme is proposed, in which the additional chain carriers are sulfite ion radical (SO3(-.)), sulfate ion radical (SO4(-.), and peroxomonosulfate ion radical (SO5(-.). The overall rate of oxidation is proportional to the square root of the light intensity per unit volume, which is readily interpreted by the second-order termination reaction of the proposed scheme. It is also shown that the reaction proceeds for an extended period of time in the dark following illumination, and a quantitative analysis is presented for this phase as well. The postulated model predicts that cerium(III) should have a cocatalytic or synergistic effect on the autoxidation of sulfite ion in the presence of other catalysts. This prediction was confirmed in the iron(III)-sulfite ion-oxygen system. The experimental method and the mathematical treatment used might be applicable to a wide range of photoinduced chain reactions.

Iron-Manganese Redox Processes and Synergism in the Mechanism for Manganese-Catalyzed Autoxidation of Hydrogen Sulfite

The mechanism for manganese-catalyzed aqueous autoxidation of hydrogen sulfite at pH 2.4 has been revised on the basis of previous comprehensive kinetic studies and thermodynamic data for iron-manganese redox processes and manganese(II) and -(III) protolysis equilibria. The catalytically active manganese species is concluded to be an oxo- (or hydroxo-) bridged mixed-valence complex of composition (OH)Mn(III)OMn(II)(aq) with a formation constant beta' of (3 +/- 1) x 10(4) M(-)(1) from kinetics or ca. 7 x 10(4) M(-)(1) from thermodynamics. It is formed via rapid reaction between Mn(H(2)O)(6)(2+) and hydrolyzed manganese(III) aqua hydroxo complexes, and it initiates the chain reaction via formation of a precursor complex with HSO(3)(-), within which fast bridged electron transfer from S(IV) to Mn(III) takes place, resulting in formation of chain propagating sulfite radicals, SO(3)(*)(-). The very high acidity of Mn(3+)(aq), indicating a strong bond Mn(III)-OH(2) in hydrolyzed manganese(III), makes an attack by HSO(3)(-) on substitution labile Mn(II) in the bridged complex more favorable than one directly on manganese(III). The synergistic effect observed in systems containing iron as well as manganese and the chain initiation by trace concentrations of iron(III) of ca. 5 x 10(-)(8) M can also be rationalized in terms of formation of this bridged mixed-valence dimanganese(II,III) complex. The presence of iron(III) in a Mn(II)/HSO(3)(-) system results in rapid establishment of an iron-manganese redox equilibrium, increasing the concentration of manganese(III) and of the catalytically active bridged complex. The bridged complex oxidizes HSO(3)(-) several orders of magnitude faster than does iron(III) itself. Comparison with some previous studies shows that the different experimental rate laws reported do not necessarily indicate different reaction mechanisms. Instead, they can be rationalized in terms of different rate-determining steps within the same complex chain reaction mechanism, depending on the experimental conditions used.