Electrochemical study of the complex [Cu(pdto)(H2O)]2+ (pdto =1,8-bis-(2-pyridyl)-3,6-dithiaoctane) in the presence of the superoxide. Toward an electrochemical method to measure SOD activity

Abstract

This work presents the electrochemical characterization of Cu(NO3)2•2.5H2O, [Cu(pdto)H2O](PF6)2 and superoxide ion in DMSO. The electrochemical processes Cu(II) + 2e → Cu(0), [Cu(pdto)(H2O)]2+ + 1e → [Cu(pdto)]+, [Cu(pdto)]+ + 1e → Cu(0), O2•- ↔ O2 + 1e-, and O2•- + 1e + H+ → OOH- were identified. The electrochemical response of a mixture of the complex [Cu(pdto)(H2O)]2+ with superoxide was studied and, according to this result, it was possible to establish a simple methodology that indicates if a compound presents a superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like mechanism. © 2013, Sociedad Química de México.