Molecular Orbital Evidence for Weiss's Oxyhæmoglobin Structure

WE have read with interest the recent paper by Weiss 1 concerning the electronic structure of oxygenated hæmoglobin. From a consideration of: (1) magnetic properties, (2) absorption spectrum and (3) acid dissociation constant of oxygenated hæmoglobin, Weiss has proposed that the iron has a +3 charge. Therefore, iron is essentially in the ferric state. His paper has prompted us to give additional evidence in support of his idea.