The Kinetics of Tripropylammonium Fluorochromate Oxidation of Mandelic Acids

The oxidation of Mandelic Acids (MA) to the corresponding oxoacids with tripropylammonium fluorochromate (TriPAFC) in aqueous acetic acid has been studied. The reaction is first order with respect to [TriPAFC], [MA] and [H+]. The oxidation of α-deuteriomandelic acid shows the presence of a primary kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 5.54 at 303 K). The reaction has been found to be catalyzed by H+ ions. The various thermodynamic parameters for the oxidation have been reported and discussed along with the validity of the isokinetic relationship. The Exner plot showed that all the selected mandelic acids are oxidized by the same mechanism.