Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Acid-Base Catalysis In Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reactions (Pcet): The Effects Of Brönsted Bases On The Oxidation Of Glutathione And Hydroquinone, Ramos Jonnathan Medina

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the results and discussion of the investigation of the effects of Brönsted bases on the kinetics and thermodynamics of two proton-coupled electron transfer processes: the mediated oxidation of glutathione and the electrochemical oxidation of hydroquinone. Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is the name given to reactions that involve the transfer of electron(s) accompanied by the exchange of proton(s). PCETs are found in many chemical and biological processes, some of current technological relevance such as the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells, which involves the transfer of four electrons and four protons (4e-, 4H+); or the splitting of water …