Kinetic Studies on the Reaction of Iron (Ⅲ) with D-penicillamine in Acidic Solution$^1$

Anaerobic oxidation of D-penicillamine by Fe(III) in acidic solution has been studied kinetically by the use of stopped-flow system. The reaction is biphasic with a rapid complexation of 1: 1 complex, $Fepen^+$ (pen= D-penicillamine dianion) which is then internally reduced to Fe(II) and disulfide. Rates of both the complexation and the redox process are pH dependent and also are affected by the presence of chloride ion. Different from the reaction of Cu(II) with D-penicillamine, partially oxidized mixed-valence complex is not formed even transiently in this reaction.