Oxidation of Small Phenolic Compounds by Mn(IV)

Plant secondary metabolites, including phenolics, represent a large quantity of organic material that enters soil and contributes to the formation of soil organic matter (SOM). The process of phenolics forming SOM remains poorly understood. One possible mechanism is oxidation of the phenolic compound catalyzed by redox active metals such as manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) in soils. In this work, we report how three phenolic compounds react with a redox active environmentally relevant metal, Mn(IV). The reactions were monitored via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and direct CO