THE MECHANISMS OF PERMANGANATE OXIDATION: VII. THE OXIDATION OF FLUORAL HYDRATE

Abstract

The kinetics of the permanganate oxidation of fluoral hydrate have been examined over a very wide range of acidities. In the region between pH 2 and pH 8 the reaction is extremely slow but as the basicity is increased the reaction rate rises and can be correlated with the increasing concentration of the anions [Formula: see text] and CF3CHO2=. The latter is oxidized extremely rapidly. The mechanism is discussed in terms of hydride ion or hydrogen atom transfer from the anions to permanganate. Large isotope effects are observed in the oxidation of CF3CD(OH)2.In strong acid the oxidation rate rises again and this is interpreted in terms of a reaction between neutral fluoral hydrate and neutral permanganic acid. The acidity constant for the latter has been determined.