Kinetics of oxidation of glutathione by an octahedral cobalt(III) complex with phenolate–amide–amine coordination

Abstract

The reduction of the octahedral cobalt(III) complex Co^III(HL)·9H₂O, H₄L = 1,8-bis(2-hydroxybenzamido)-3,6-diazaoctane by glutathione (GSH) has been studied by conventional spectrophotometry at 25.0 ≤ t/°C ≤ 45.0, 0.02 ≤ [H⁺]/mol dm⁻³ ≤ 0.20 and I = 0.3 mol dm⁻³ (NaClO₄). The reaction is biphasic. The fast initial phase is attributed to the H⁺-induced formation of the mixed ligand complex, [Co^III(H₂L)GSH]⁺, for which the rate-limiting step is the chelate ring opening via Co^III–NH (amide–N) bond cleavage of the protonated species, [Co^III(H₂L)]⁺. Outer-sphere association equilibria between GSH/GSH₂ ⁺ and [Co^III(H₂L)]⁺ substantially retard the ring opening process and consequently the mixed ligand complex formation. This is then followed by a slow phase involving reduction of [Co^III(H₂L)GSH]⁺ by both GSH and GSH₂ ⁺. The final products are the corresponding Co(II) complex and the oxidized form of GSH, GS–SG. The kinetic data and activation parameters for the redox process are interpreted in terms of an outer-sphere electron transfer mechanism.