Self-assembled nanocontainer mediated oxidation of Fe(ii) by Cu(ii)–neocuproine complex: a model system to emulate electron transfer proteins

Abstract

An otherwise thermodynamically unfavourable oxidation of iron(II) by copper(II) facilitated by complexation of the oxidant with neocuproine was studied in micelle-based nano-containers of varying architecture. Pseudophase and Berezin's kinetic models were respectively used to understand the underlying mechanism of the reaction in the microheterogeneous environs of cationic/nonionic and anionic/mixed surfactant systems. The results highlight the importance of hydrophobic and electrostatic forces in modifying the kinetics of redox reactions, having relevance in understanding the behaviour of electron transfer proteins in actual biological systems.