Date of Award
12-1994
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Dr. Donald R. Schreiber
Second Advisor
Dr. James Howell
Third Advisor
Dr. Michael J. Barcelona
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The interaction of the lignin precursor compound caffeic acid with copper(lI) in aqueous solution was studied. In the presence of a reducible transition metal, such as copper, caffeic acid undergoes oxidation. Oxygen was shown to play an important role in the reaction. The UV-visible data demonstrated that the conjugated double bond in the propenoic acid side chain of caffeic acid slowly disappeared during the reaction. The molecular weight experiments indicated that the product was a dimer. FTIR spectrum agreed with two possible dimer structures involving the side chain of caffeic acid. In addition, the reaction was shown to be reversible. When heated, the dimer dissociated back into monomer. A mechanism of this reaction has been proposed. We believed the oxidation of caffeic acid in the presence of copper(lI) may play an important role in the formation of humic substances in natural water.
Recommended Citation
Xu, Ling Xiaozheng, "The Reaction of Caffeic Acid and Copper (II) in Natural Water" (1994). Masters Theses. 4359.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4359