Hydrogen dithionite

Common reducing agents are hydrogen in the presence of metallic or complex catalysts (e.g. Ni, Pd, Pt, Ru, Rh), hydrides (e.g. alanes, boranes, LIAIH, NaBHJ, reducing metals (e.g. Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Zn), and low-valent compounds of nitrogen (e.g. NjHj, NjHJ, phosphorus (e.g. triethyl phosphite, triphenyiphosphine), and sulfur (e.g. HO-CHj-SOjNa = SFS, sodium dithionite = Na S O. ... 

The most common chemical bleaching procedures are hypochlorite bleach for cotton hydrogen peroxide bleach for wool and cotton sodium chlorite bleach for cotton, polyamide, polyester, and polyacrylonitrile and reductive bleaching with dithionite for wool and polyamide. 

Later, a completely different and more convenient synthesis of riboflavin and analogues was developed (34). It consists of the nitrosative cyclization of 6-(A/-D-ribityl-3,4-xyhdino)uracil (18), obtained from the condensation of A/-D-ribityl-3,4-xyhdine (11) and 6-chlorouracil (19), with excess sodium nitrite in acetic acid, or the cyclization of (18) with potassium nitrate in acetic in the presence of sulfuric acid, to give riboflavin-5-oxide (20) in high yield. Reduction with sodium dithionite gives (1). In another synthesis, 5-nitro-6-(A/-D-ribityl-3,4-xyhdino) uracil (21), prepared in situ from the condensation of 6-chloro-5-nitrouracil (22) with A/-D-ribityl-3,4-xyhdine (11), was hydrogenated over palladium on charcoal in acetic acid. The filtrate included 5-amino-6-(A/-D-ribityl-3,4-xyhdino)uracil (23) and was maintained at room temperature to precipitate (1) by autoxidation (35). These two pathways are suitable for the preparation of riboflavin analogues possessing several substituents (Fig. 4). 

Wool with dark pigmented fibers is treated with ferrous sulfate, sodium dithionite, and formaldehyde before it is bleached with hydrogen peroxide. The ferrous ions are absorbed by the dark pigments where they increase the bleaching done by the peroxide. 

Wool may also be bleached with reducing agents, usually after bleaching with hydrogen peroxide. This is the normal practice with wool blends. In the reducing step, 0.2—0.5% sodium dithionite solutions are often used at pH 5.5—7 for 1—2 h at 45—65°C. Faster bleaching is obtained with 2inc hydroxymethane-sulfinate [24887-06-7] below pH 3 and above 80°C. 

SO2. Consistent with this, air-oxidation of alkaline dithionite solutions at 30-60° are of order one-half with respect to [8204 ]. Acid hydrolysis (second order with respect to [8204 ]) yields thiosulfate and hydrogen sulfite, whereas alkaline hydrolysis produces sulfite and sulfide ... 

Dithionite-mediated reductive activation of mitomycin C has been employed in the study of its DNA alkylation chemistry.6,63 However, dithionite activated mitomycin C possesses different DNA alkylation properties than that activated by catalytic hydrogenation and enzymatic reduction. We postulated that a new alkylating species is produced by dithionite reductive activation resulting in different reactivity than the iminium methide species. To investigate dithionite-mediated reductive activation further, we treated 13 C-labeled analogues of WV-15 with dithionite and carried out spectral and product studies. 

Typically, the dithionite species disproportionates in aqueous media to afford the hydrogen sulfite and thiosulfonate nucleophiles.64 This finding suggests that sulfite esters (-0S02 ) and Bunte salts (-SS03-)65 could be formed upon iminium methide... 

This is by far the most important reaction of tetrazolium salts and accounts for the bulk of their many applications. A large variety of reagents can reduce tetrazolium salts, e.g., 53 to formazans, e.g., 51. Ascorbic acid, hydrazine, and hydroxylamine have been recommended for the preparation of formazans from tetrazolium salts.245 Stronger reducing agents such as ammonium sulfide, sodium amalgam, sodium dithionite, and catalytic hydrogenation can further reduce the formazans to the amidrazones, e.g.,... 

For satisfactory whiteness on wool, it is essential for the fibre to be well scoured and bleached, either oxidatively with hydrogen peroxide or by reduction using stabilised sodium dithionite. Brightener is usually applied together with the dithionite bleach. To achieve the highest possible whiteness, the wool should first be scoured to remove natural waxes and other contaminants, then bleached with peroxide and finally treated with FBA during a second bleach with dithionite. 

Mayhew, S.G. 1978. The redox potential of dithionite and SO,- from equilibrium reactions with flavodoxins, methyl viologen and hydrogen plus hydrogenase. European Journal of Biochemistry 85 535-547. 

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