Abstract
Occurance of concurrent redox and complexation reaction between copper (II) and penicillamine, known as an excellent therapeutic agent for Wilson's disease, was investigated by both spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods. Mixing of excess copper (II) with penicillamine was produced a red-violet colored complex. This complex are characterized by much more intense absorption than those oustomarily found in cupric or cuprous complexes, and the complex was presumed as a mixed valence complex. In the presence of excess penicillamine, an yellow copper (I) complex was formed. These complexes were isolated from aqueous solution. It was found that the compounds which have strong excretion activity of copper, such as penicillamine and β-methyl-β-ethyl-cysteine, form stable red-violet complexes, while the compounds which are not effective for the excretion of copper, such as N-acetylpenicillamine and cysteine, do not form stable red-violet complexes.
