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Title: Common Photo-oxidative Decarboxylation Mechanism in Iron Hydroxy Carboxylate Complexes

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory

Photochemical oxidation of dissolved organic matter is a crucial component of carbon cycling in surface waters. Photo-oxidation of iron(III)-carboxylate complexes is of particular interest because complexation with iron(III) can sensitize this functional group to photodecarboxylation. Further, the photo-oxidation mechanism of ferrioxalate has been extensively characterized, but it is unclear whether the mechanism or timing is similar for other more complex carboxylates. In this study, we use time-resolved infrared spectroscopy to demonstrate that Fe(III)-citrate, an aliphatic carboxylate, and Fe(III)-salicylate, an aromatic carboxylate, follow the same photo-oxidation kinetics as ferrioxalate. Hence the data suggest a common mechanism for decarboxylation of iron hydroxy carbonates. Differences in the CO2 yield within 50 ps are qualitatively similar to the long-time-scale quantum yield for Fe(II) production.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
2328091
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, Vol. 127, Issue 30; ISSN 1089-5639
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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