The Catalytic Action of Traces of Iron and Copper on the Anaerobic Oxidation of Sulphydryl Compounds

Abstract

HCN inhibits the aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of sulphydryl compounds. The addition of traces of metals (Cu, Fc) to purified sulphydryl compounds accelerates these oxidations. This catalysis may be due to alternate oxidation and reduction of the metal by which means H is made available for acceptance by O or by methylene blue. The reduction of methylene blue by sulphydryl compounds may occur to an appreciable extent in the absence of catalytic metals. O activation is not a necessary factor in the systems studied.