Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Analysis Of The Decomposition Of Hydrogen Peroxide Using A Schiff Base Copper Complex By Cyclic Voltammetry, Gavin James Rustin Mr.

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Copper(II) complexes of Schiff bases can be used in the catalysis of hydrogen peroxide to create water and oxygen. The mechanism and the kinetics of this disproportionation reaction by a dimeric copper(II) complex [CuSALAD]₂ are studied in this experiment, where SALAD refers to a Schiff Base ligand formed from salicyaldehyde and 1S,2S-D(+)-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol. By using cyclic voltammetry, the oxidation-reduction processes of a reaction may be monitored. The [CuSALAD]­₂ is initially reacted with a base such as imidazole to form the catalytic species, and the ratio of the copper(II) complex to the imidazole was found to be 1:4, consistent with …