Goldstein S, Czapski G
J Free Radic Biol Med. 1985;1(5-6):373-80. doi: 10.1016/0748-5514(85)90149-7.
We have suggested a possible reaction mechanism for the oxidation of the cuprous phenanthroline complex by H2O2 in the presence of formate and methanol. The cuprous phenanthroline complex was generated by pulse and gamma radiolysis. We measured the decay kinetics of this complex as well as the chain length of this reaction. Our observations indicate that in this reaction OH. is not formed directly, but through the decomposition of a metal-peroxo complex. This mechanism does not necessarily operate with other copper compounds, especially with copper complexes bound to a biological target.
