Abstract
IN order to explain the catalysis of oxalo-acetic acid decarboxylation by metal ions, intermediate complex formation between the metal ion and the acid anion has been postulated. In an attempt to determine the nature of this complex, Steinberger and Westheimer1 studied the kinetics of the decarboxylation of the dimethyl substituted acid. In this way they showed that the catalysis did not proceed through an enolic form of the acid. From a further consideration of the general characteristics of decarboxylation reactions, they suggested that the metal complex involved in the catalysis had the formula, MA, which was formed from MHA+, by the loss of a proton.
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References
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WILLIAMS, R. Metal Ion Catalysis of the Decarboxylation of Oxalo-Acetic Acid. Nature 171, 304–305 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171304b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/171304b0
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