Abstract
Rate constants for the reactions of cumyl hydroperoxide and t‐butyl hydroperoxide with ferrous complexes of ATP and citrate were measured at pH 7.4. These ligands are potential chelators of iron(II) in the low‐molecular weight iron pool that may catalyze oxidative degradation of biomolecules. The second‐order rate constants for the reduction of cumyl hydroperoxide and t‐butyl hydroperoxide by ferrous ATP are 3.1 × 103 and 1.3 × 103 M−1·s−1, respectively, at 25°C and 0.11 M ionic strength. Rates of reduction by ferrous citrate are similar. Activation enthalpies for these reactions average 10 kcal/mol.