Method for catalyzing oxidation/reduction reactions of simple molecules

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for catalyzing the reactions QZ+H.sub.2 X?QZX (1) and QZX?QZ+H.sub.2 X (2) wherein Q=C or N; Z=O or S; X=O, S, NH or NR; R=C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl which may be linear, branched or cyclized, which comprises: contacting at least one polydentate nitrogen-containing chelating agent complexed with a metal atom with the reactants of one of said reactions, wherein said contacting takes place in the presence of a means for oxidizing when reaction (1) is catalyzed and in the presence of a means for reducing when reaction (2) is catalyzed. A particular reaction is the conversion of NO to NO.sub.2 using water and supported porphines, hemes, phthalocyanines, ethioporphrins sirohemes, particularly heme and heme compounds or derivatives such as methemoglobin, myoglobin, or hemin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.