The Cr(V) products of the reaction of Cr(VI)
with H2O2 were studied by EPR spectroscopy.
In addition to the
well-characterized
tetrakis(η2-peroxo)chromate(V) complex,
[Cr(O2)4]3-,
with g
iso = 1.9723
(A
iso = 18.4 ×
10-4
cm-1), three new species were observed with
isotropic EPR parameters, g
iso = 1.9820,
g
iso = 1.9798 (A
iso =
16.3
× 10-4 cm-1), and
g
iso = 1.9764 (A
iso =
18.1 × 10-4
cm-1). While
[Cr(O2)4]3- is
stable at high concentrations
of H2O2 and in alkaline solution, the species
with a signal at g
iso = 1.9798 is stabilized
at low relative concentrations
of H2O2 and in neutral solution. The
signal at g
iso = 1.9764 is most prominent in
weakly acidic (pH = 4−7)
solutions and low relative concentrations of
H2O2. Finally, the signal at 1.9820 is
only minor and is apparent at
low pH values and low [H2O2]. From the
pH and [H2O2] dependences, and by analogy
with the V(V) chemistry,
the species giving rise to the signals at g
iso
= 1.9820, g
iso = 1.9798, and
g
iso = 1.9764 are assigned as the
oxo(η2-peroxo)chromium(V),
[Cr(O)(O2)(OH2)
n
]+,
aquaoxobis(η2-peroxo)chromate(V),
[Cr(O)(O2)2(OH2)]-,
and
the hydroxotris(η2-peroxo)chromate(V),
[Cr(O2)3(OH)]2-,
complexes, respectively. The implications of these
Cr(V) peroxo species for understanding the in vitro DNA damage
caused by Cr(VI) and H2O2 and the
genotoxicity
of carcinogenic Cr(VI) complexes are discussed.