The Haber–Weiss cycle consists of the following two reactions:
H2O2 + OH.
H2O + O2− + H+
and
H2O2 + O2−O2 + OH− + OH.
The second reaction achieved notoriety as a possible source of
hydroxyl radicals. However, it has a negligible
rate constant. It is
believed that iron(III) complexes can catalyse this reaction: first,
Fe(III) is reduced by superoxide, followed by
oxidation by
dihydrogen peroxide.
Source:
PAC, 1997, 69, 1251
(Glossary of terms used in bioinorganic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1997))
on page 1277
