Abstract: Reactions of ferrous nitrilotriacetate (nta) and ethylenediamine-A', N'-diacetate (edda) complexes with hydrogen peroxide at neutral pH in the presence of formate lead to transient intermediates characterized by absorptions near 280 and 400 nm as previously observed for hedta as a ligand. The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by Fe"'nta and- edda leads to ligand destruction, which is not inhibited by formate. During this process a ...