Kinetics of Oxidation of Cuprous Complexes of Substituted Phenanthroline and 2, 2’-Bipyridyl by Molecular Oxygen and by Hydrogen Peroxide in Aqueous Solution

The kinetics and the reaction mechanism of copper(I) complexes of 5-methyl-1, 10-phenanthroline, 5-chloro-1, 10-phenanthroline, 5-nitro-1, 10-phenanthroline, 2, 9-dimethyl-1, 10-phenanthroline, and 2, 2’-bipyridyl with oxygen and hydrogen peroxide have been investigated in aqueous solutions with use of the pulse radiolysis technique. The oxidation by 0₂is second order in the copper(I) complex, while the oxidation by H₂0₂is first order in the copper(I) complex. Both reactions are first order in oxidants. The kinetic results of the oxidation of copper(I) complexes by oxygen are interpreted by a mechanism that proceeds via a superoxide intermediate.