Nonenzymatie Formation of Energy Rich Phosphates in the Course of Imidazole Oxidation with Fenton's Reagent

Abstract

Abstract Oxidation of substituted imidazoles with modified Fenton's reagent (Fe(II), ascorbic acid, EDTA and H2O2) in aqueous solution at pH 5-7 in the presence of inorganic ortho-phosphate gives high yields of an unknown bound phosphate, in the case of 2-methyl-imidazole up to 35% based on inorganic phosphate. The dependence of the yields on reaction parameters and the hydrolytic behaviour of the compound was studied. The products are unstable in alkaline medium and fairly stable in acid solution (half-life period ca. 1 h at 25 °C in 1 N perchloric acid). Similar bound phosphate was also observed using autoxidation with O2 instead of H2O2.