The selenium catalyzed reduction of methylene blue by thiols

✍ Scribed by W.J. Rhead; G.N. Schrauzer

• Book ID: 104105879
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1974
• Weight: 941 KB
• Volume: 3
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0006-3061
• DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3061(00)80072-1

✦ Synopsis

The reduction of methylene blue, of other reducible dyes, as well as of riboflavin, hemin, and of vitamin B,k by thiols is catalyzed by micromolar amounts of selenium. The reduction of methylene blue was investigated in greater detail and was found to exhibit a complicated dependence on the pH and the thioi concentration. Alkylating agents, CN-, as well as Cd* or Hg* are inhibitory, while Cu* or Ag+ have stimulatory effects. Dithiols are more effective reducing agents than monothiols. The catalytic effects of selenium in these reactions may parallel some of the functions of selenium in Go.