The Australian National University

Anthony J Herlt

John M Harrowfield

Alan McLeod Sargeson

Hydrogen peroxide is produced by oxidation of a coordination complex of a metal ion capable of existing in at least two oxidation states and a ligand, the coordination complex being sufficiently stable for the metal ion to be oxidized and reduced without decomposition of the complex and the metal ion being in its lower oxidation state. In a cyclic process, the step of reduction of the complex with the metal ion in its higher oxidation state precedes the oxidation step, and the reduction and oxidation steps are repeated sequentially. Novel coordination complexes which may be used in the process have the formula: ##STR1## in which n represents an integer; M represents a cobalt ion or other metal ion having at least two oxidation states; x and y, which may be the same or different, each represent .tbd.N, .tbd.P or .tbd.C--R', in which R' represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, or a hydroxyl, nitro, nitroso, amino, alkyl, or cyano group, or a group of the formula --COOR', --COCOOR' or --NH--COCH--CHCOOR' in which R' is a hydrogen atom or alkyl group; provided that when M represents a cobalt ion and n is 2, x and y do not both represent .tbd.N.

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Curtin, Australia

Anthony J Herlt