ABSTRACT
Transition metal ions react with other ions, radicals, and molecules in electron transfer
reactions. Such reactions often occur very rapidly. Redox catalysis is based on this capability
of transition metal ions to serve as efficient mediators in electron transfer reactions. This type
of catalysis found a wide application for accelerating the liquid-phase oxidation of hydrocar-
bons and aldehydes. Since a free radical is always formed in the reaction of an ion with a
molecule during electron transfer, these redox systems became efficient generators of free
radicals. These reactions are used for the initiation of reactions of radical polymerization and
oxidation. The oscillating regime of the process is often observed in these systems. Redox
reactions play a very important role in living organisms where they form the basis for
enzymatic processes of respiration, nitrogen fixation, and removal of products harmful for
the organism.
