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Redox Reactions

Redox Reactions

Oxidation-reduction or redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one molecule or atom to another. When an atom gains an electron, another atom must lose an electron, meaning oxidation and reduction must occur together. Since the redox occurs in pairs, the atom that gets oxidized is also called the reducing agent or reductant, and the atom that is reduced is also called the oxidizing agent or oxidant. A straightforward way to remember the definitions of oxidation and reduction is...

Redox Reactions

Redox Reactions

Redox reactions are vital biochemical processes that underpin energy metabolism in cells. These reactions involve the transfer of electrons between molecules, occurring in tandem as oxidation and reduction. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, while reduction denotes their gain. This coupling ensures the seamless flow of electrons through metabolic pathways. For example, in bacterial metabolism, glucose undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide, while oxygen is simultaneously reduced to...

Metal-Ligand Bonds

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

Redox Equilibria: Overview

Redox Equilibria: Overview

A reduction-oxidation reaction is commonly called a redox reaction. In a redox reaction, electrons are transferred from one species to another rather than being shared between or among atoms. The reducing agent or reductant is the species that loses electrons and gets oxidized in the process. The species that gains electrons and gets reduced in the process is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Redox reactions are represented as two separate equations called half-reactions, where one equation...

Redox Titration: Other Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

Redox Titration: Other Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

Besides iodine, other oxidizing or reducing agents can serve as titrants in redox titrations. Common oxidizing titrants include KMnO4, cerium(IV), and K2Cr2O7. The choice of oxidizing titrants depends on factors like stability, cost, analyte strength, and reaction rate between the analyte and titrant. KMnO4 is a strong oxidizing titrant that reduces from Mn(VII) to Mn(II) in a highly acidic solution, simultaneously oxidizing the analyte to a higher oxidation state. In this case, KMnO4 acts as a...

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...

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Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes

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Redox-active ligands in catalysis.

Vijayendran K K Praneeth¹, Mark R Ringenberg, Thomas R Ward

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 51, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)

|September 22, 2012

Summary

Nature utilizes redox-active molecules and transition metals for efficient multi-electron catalysis. Biomimetic strategies now leverage these principles with earth-abundant metals like iron and copper for challenging chemical transformations.

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Area of Science:

Biochemistry and inorganic chemistry
Catalysis and reaction mechanisms

Background:

Nature employs redox-active moieties coupled with transition metals for efficient multi-electron catalysis.
Metalloenzymes utilize redox-active moieties to store charge, facilitating multi-electron reactions and avoiding high-energy intermediates.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore biomimetic strategies for multi-electron catalysis using redox-active moieties.
To enable the use of cost-effective and less toxic 3d transition metals (e.g., Fe, Cu) in catalysis.

Main Methods:

Development of catalytic systems incorporating redox-active moieties near metal centers.
Application of these systems to catalyze challenging chemical transformations.

Main Results:

Successful implementation of biomimetic approaches for multi-electron catalysis.
Demonstration of imparting noble-metal-like catalytic activity to earth-abundant metals.

Conclusions:

Redox-active moieties are key to efficient multi-electron catalysis, mimicking natural systems.
This approach offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to noble metal catalysts for complex reactions.