Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by disulfo-and diselenodicarboxylic acids

Abstract

Reduction of hydrogen peroxide by dithiodipropionic acid, dithiobutyric acid and their selenium isologs has been compared. Rates of consumption of dicarboxylic acids and of hydrogen peroxide were measured at or near physiological pH. Reaction rates and degree of oxidation depend upon initial molar ratios of hydrogen peroxide and dicarboxylic acid. Dithiodibutyric acid was unreactive under all conditions. Diselenides were more than twenty-four times as effective as dithiodipropionic acid. Reactions are pH dependent; p K values were determined, but appear unrelated to reactivity.