Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Location of Free Electrons in Porphin Ring Complexes

Abstract

SEVERAL molecules containing a porphin ring, of similar central structures, possess intermediate states when undergoing oxidation, and there has been considerable speculation on the actual nature of these transient compounds1,2. Most interest has probably been centred on the oxidation of hæmoglobin derivatives, and the action of hydrogen peroxide, potassium periodate and other oxidizing agents has been studied in detail by George and Irvine2. The two possible structures for the oxidation state of the met-hæmoglobins are: (1) a radical species formed by hydrogen atom removal from some position in the conjugated ring system, or (2) a change in the valency of the central iron atom. Although several different chemical reactions were studied it was not possible to prove conclusively which of the two structures was actually present.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cahill, A. E., and Taube, H., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 73, 2847 (1951).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. George, P., and Irvine, D. H., Biochem. J., 52, 511 (1952); 58, 188 (1954); 60, 596 (1955).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. George, P., Ingram, D. J. E., and Bennett, J. E., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. (in the press).

  4. Ingram, D. J. E., “Spectrocopy at Radio and Microwave Frequencies”, 66 (Butterworths, Ltd., 1955).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ingram, D. J. E., Bennett, J. E., George, P., and Goldstein, J. M., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 78, 3545 (1956).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GIBSON, J., INGRAM, D. Location of Free Electrons in Porphin Ring Complexes. Nature 178, 871–872 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/178871b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/178871b0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing