The mechanism of the oxidation of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) by
hydrogen peroxide was studied in the acidic pH range. The nucleophilic
attack by sulphur on the peroxide bond controls the rate. Extrapolati
on of the pH dependency suggests that the rate of attack by the deprot
onated dianion is highest. Traces of Fe(III), at levels below 10(-7) m
ol dm(-3), do not catalyze efficiently the process through one-electro
n mechanisms; at higher concentrations, or on the surface of iron(III)
oxides, this type of catalysis becomes important. The electrochemical
oxidation of 3-MPA was also studied, using differential pulse polarog
raphy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The mechanism is of the EC2E
type, the second electron transfer step corresponding to the oxidation
of the disulphide RS-SR. The rate constant for the dimerization of th
e RS. radicals was 1.8 x 10(3) mol(-1) dm(3) s(-1); the slowness of th
is step agrees with the mechanisms observed in the course of one-elect
ron oxidations by metal ions.