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Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

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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...

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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...

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In ozonolysis, ozone is used to cleave a carbon–carbon double bond to form aldehydes and ketones, or carboxylic acids, depending on the work-up.
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Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules

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Energy production within a cell involves many coordinated chemical pathways. Most of these pathways are combinations of oxidation and reduction reactions, which occur at the same time. An oxidation reaction strips an electron from an atom in a compound, and the addition of this electron to another compound is a reduction reaction. Because oxidation and reduction usually occur together, these pairs of reactions are called redox reactions.
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Redox Titration: Other Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

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Updated: Dec 17, 2025

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells

Published on: April 11, 2014

Activity-Based Sensing of Ascorbate by Using Copper-Mediated Oxidative Bond Cleavage.

Zuo Hang Yu¹, Christopher J Reinhardt², Thomas Hin-Fung Wong¹

¹Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, P. R. China.

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

|June 26, 2020

Summary

We developed a new method for detecting ascorbate (vitamin C) using copper-mediated reactions. This approach offers high selectivity, enabling accurate measurement in food, biological samples, and live cells.

Keywords:

ascorbate copper fluorescent probes oxidation sensors

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Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Biological Samples Using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Assay

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Last Updated: Dec 17, 2025

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells

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Published on: April 11, 2014

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Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Biological Samples Using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Assay

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Biological Samples Using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Assay

Published on: May 12, 2020

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Chemical Biology

Background:

Ascorbate is a vital biological reductant and enzyme cofactor.
Direct detection methods for ascorbate lack selectivity due to interfering cellular reducing agents.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a highly selective method for detecting ascorbate.
To overcome the limitations of existing ascorbate detection techniques.

Main Methods:

Utilized the reduction potential of ascorbate to mediate copper-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of ether-caged fluorophores.
Employed copper(II) complexes with specific amine ligands as ascorbate-responsive units.
Developed probes releasing coumarin or fluorescein dyes upon ascorbate detection.

Main Results:

Identified specific copper(II) complexes that react with ascorbate to form a potent oxidant.
Demonstrated rapid benzylic oxidation and dye release, specific to ascorbate.
Successfully applied the probes for fluorometric detection of ascorbate in food, plasma, serum, and live cells.

Conclusions:

Developed a selective and sensitive method for ascorbate detection based on copper-mediated oxidative cleavage.
The probes are effective in diverse biological and food matrices, including in vivo imaging.
This approach offers a versatile platform for developing new analytical tools for biological reductants.