Redox and complexation chemistry of the CrVI/CrV–D-galacturonic acid system Juan C. González,a Verónica Daier,a Silvia García,a Bernard A. Goodman,b Ana M. Atria,c Luis F. Sala*a and Sandra Signorella*a a Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, UNR, Suipacha 531, 2000, Rosario, Argentina. E-mail:
[email protected];
[email protected] b Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, Scotland, UK DD2 5DA c Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas and CIMAT, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 233, Santiago, Chile The oxidation of D-galacturonic acid by CrVI yields the aldaric acid and CrIII as final products when a 30-times or higher excess of the uronic acid over CrVI is used. The redox reaction involves the formation of intermediate CrIV and CrV species, with CrVI and the two intermediate species reacting with galacturonic acid at comparable rates. The rate of disappearance of CrVI, CrIV and CrV depends on pH and [substrate], and the slow reaction step of the CrVI to CrIII conversion depends on the reaction conditions. The EPR spectra show that five-coordinate oxo–CrV bischelates are formed at pH ≤ 5 with the uronic acid bound to CrV through the carboxylate and the -OH group of the furanose form or the ring oxygen of the pyranose form. Six-coordinated oxo–CrV monochelates are observed as minor species in addition to the major five- V VI coordinated oxo–Cr bischelates only for galacturonic acid : Cr ratio ≤ 10 : 1, in 0.25–0.50 M HClO4. At pH 7.5 the EPR spectra show the formation of a CrV complex where the vic-diol groups of Galur participate in the bonding to CrV.