COPPER-COMPLEXES AND CATALASE-LIKE ACTIVITY OF A POLYELECTROLYTE DERIVED FROM ASPARTIC-ACID

The catalytic properties of the complexes resulting from the interaction between copper(II) and an optically active polymer derived from aspartic acid have been investigated. The hydrogen peroxide decomposition was used for this purpose and a relationship was established between the structure of the complexes and their catalytic activity. The kinetic parameters and activation energy of the process were determined. Comparison with results obtained with the analogous complexes derived from the polymer of glutamic acid support the assumption that additional interactions with the beta-COOH side chain are present in the aspartic complexes. Spectroscopic results indicate that copper(II) undergoes successive reduction to copper(I) and reoxidation during the catalytic process.