Mechanism of Oxidation of some Aliphatic Aldehydes by Chloramine-T

Abstract

Kinetic studies on the oxidation of acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, n- and iso-butyraldehyde have been made using chloramine-T as an oxidising agent in an alkaline medium. The reactions followed almost identical kinetics being first order with respect to both aldehyde and chloramine-T. The order with respect to alkali has been found to be almost equal to unity (0.8 to 0.90). Effect of an increase in the ionic strength was negligible while that of the addition of ethyl alcohol was negative. A mechanism involving the interaction of the enol anion of the aldehyde with chloramine-T best fits the kinetics data. Other possibilities have also been examined. Corresponding acids were found to be the oxidation products.