EFFECTS OF IMIDAZOLE AND ZINC ON THE INTERACTION OF SOME AMINO-ACID COMPOUNDS OF COPPER(II) WITH HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE

A novel effect of the inhibition of the decomposition of amino acids t o carbonates on addition of imidazole (HIm) to a reacting system conta ining equimolar amounts of copper and zinc metal powders, an amino aci d [glycine (Hgly), aspartic acid (H(2)Asp) or glycylglycine (H(2)gg)] (1:1:2) and excess hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) resulting in formation of a mixed metal mixed ligand peroxo complex compound was observed, becau se in the absence of imidazole the corresponding reaction system yield s only a mixed metal peroxo carbonate, For the resulting 2 complex com pounds, the homogeneity, i.e. [Cu(Zn)(O-2(2-))(Gly)(2)(HIm)(H2O)], [Cu (Zn)(O-2(2-))(Asp)(HIm)(H2O)(2)] or [Cu(Zn)(2)(O-2(2-))(2)(gg)(HIm)(H2 O)(4)], molecular formula, presence of peroxo group and coordination e nvironment were established by combined physicochemical evidence from elemental and thermogravimetric analysis in air and argon atmospheres, electron spin resonance and electronic and IR spectral data, It is no teworthy to mention that the corresponding carboxylic acids of the abo ve-mentioned amino acids, i,e. acetic and succinic acids, either do no t decompose to carbonates in the absence of imidazole or form novel ho mogeneous peroxo mixed metal mixed ligand complex compounds as describ ed above in the presence of imidazole, This suggests an important and significant mutual influence (in vitro) of biologically active chromop hores like peroxo ions, imidazole and amino groups in the above-mentio ned chemical reactions containing bioactive metals such as copper and zinc.