Redox question again!?

Question

Does anyone know what the redox half reaction equation is when thioglycolic acid (HS-CH2-CO2H) is acting as a reducing agent? And is the reaction dependent on what is being reduced?

Thanks

Answer 1

The half-reaction is

2 R-S superscript- = R-S-S-R + 2 e-

A bit like Cysteine

The mechanism will depend on the situation, but is very likely a one-electron process, followed by coupling of the radicals.