Ethylene scavenging ability

One of the most interesting papers on ascorbic acid-Cu reactions showed that ascorbic acid-Cu catalyzes the formation of ethylene from several precursors. The interest in ethylene was as an abscission agent in plants. All alcohols, aldehydes, acids, ethers, and epoxides formed ethylene when mixed with Cu and ascorbic acid in 5-mL closed bottles at 30 °C for 1 h. Methional was the most active, followed by propanal, propanol, propyl ether, ethyl ether, and ethanol. This reaction may be part of the oxygen scavenging system because Cu increases ascorbic acid s ability to scavenge oxygen. The authors claim this reaction cannot be attributed to copper in its lower valence state. 

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