Electron sink

Azolinones and azole iV-oxides possess systems which can act either as an electron source or as an electron sink, depending on the requirements of the reaction. 

FIGURE 18.27 Pyridoxal-5-phosphate forms stable Schiff base adducts with amino acids and acts as an effective electron sink to stabilize a variety of reaction intermediates. 

FIGURE 19.13 (a) A mechanism for the fructose-l,6-bisphosphate aldolase reaction. The Schlff base formed between the substrate carbonyl and an active-site lysine acts as an electron sink, Increasing the acidity of the /3-hydroxyl group and facilitating cleavage as shown. (B) In class II aldolases, an active-site Zn stabilizes the enolate Intermediate, leading to polarization of the substrate carbonyl group. 

TPP attack on pyruvate leads to decarboxylation. The TPP cationic imine nitrogen can act as an effective electron sink to stabilize the negative charge that must develop on the carbon... 

A general property of these carbonyl clusters is their tendency to behave as electron sinks , and their redox chemistry is extensive. [OsioC(CO)24]" has been characterized in no less than five oxidation states (n = 0-4) though admittedly this is exceptional. 

Furthermore, as discussed in Section 6.7, the ability of the elastic d orbitals to function as electron sinks contributes greatly to the rich variety of redox chemistry that is so characteristic of the cf-block elements. Here too, therefore, we recognize the bonding role of the d orbitals in Werner-type complexes as well as in carbonyl-type chemistry. 

The electrochemical behavior of heterometallic clusters has been reviewed clsewbcre."" The interest in examining clusters stems from their potential to act as "electron sinks " in principle, an aggregate of several metal atoms may be capable of multiple redox state changes. The incorporation of heterometals provides the opportunity to tune the electrochemical response, effects which should be maximized in very mixed"-metal clusters. Few very mixed -metal clusters have been subjected to detailed electrochemical studies the majority of reports deal with cyclic voltammetry only. Table XII contains a summary of electrochemical investigations of "very mixed"-metal clusters. 

Seifritz C, SL Daniel, A Gobner, HL Drake (1993) Nitrate as a preferred electron sink for the acetogen Clostridium thermoaceticum. J Bacteriol 175 8008-8013. 

So far as reactivity between different compounds is concerned, some subdivision can be made on the basis of the chemical types involved. Oxidants (electron sinks) are undoubtedly the most common chemical type to be involved in hazardous incidents, the other components functioning as fuels or other electron sources. Air (21% oxygen) is the most widely dispersed oxidant, and air-reactivity may lead to either short- or long-term hazards. 

Sulfar trioxide dissolved in sulfuric acid A compound containing combined carbon Containing carbon to metal bonding Oxidising agent (electron sink)... 

Thiazoles play a prominent role in nature. For example, the thiazolium ring present in vitamin Bi serves as an electron sink and its coenzyme form is important for the decarboxylation of a-keto-acids. Furthermore, thiazoles are useful building blocks in pharmaceutical agents as exemplified by 2-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazole-4-acetic acid, a synthetic anti-inflammatory agent. 

Electrode reactions are inner-sphere reactions because they involve adsorption on electrode surfaces. The electrode can act as an electron source (cathode) or an electron sink (anode). A complete electrochemical cell consists of two electrode reactions. Reactants are oxidized at the anode and reduced at the cathode. Each individual reaction is called a half cell reaction. The driving force for electron transfer across an electrochemical cell is the Gibbs free energy difference between the two half cell reactions. The Gibbs free energy difference is defined below in terms of electrode potential,... 

There are only a few examples of cationic clusters, which is in keeping with the postulated electron-sink effect of the system of metal-metal bonds. This hypothesis is supported by examination of some properties of the clusters Co3(CO)9(/i3-CR) as reported previously207 209. ... 

One final example worth mentioning is the reductive alkylation/arylation with lithium and alkyl/aryl halides in liquid ammonia. This is a two-step process in which negatively charged nanotubes are formed via electron transfer from the metal. This step is relatively easy and fast due to the CNTs electron sink properties, and it enables exfoliation of the tubes through electrostatic repulsion in the second stage, the alkyl/aryl halides react with the charged tubes to form a radical anion which can dissociate into the alkyl radical and the halide anion, with the former species undergoing addition to the CNT sidewalls [42]. 

Fig. 6.4 Reversible interconversion of amino acid and keto acid. Conjugation of the imine bond in the aldimine with the electron sink of the pyridine ring plus protonation of the pyridine nitrogen as well as the metal ion - all this results in weakening of the C-H bond of the amino acid residue. Thus, also catalyzed is a-proton exchange, racemization of a chiral center at the a-carbon atom and decarboxylation of the appropriate amino acid. ...

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