Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of some thioacids by tetrabutylammonium tribromide

Department of Chemistry, J. N. V. University, Jodhpur-342 005, India

Manuscript received 18 July 2003, revised 3 November 2004, accepted 9 December 2004

The oxidation of sonic thioacids viz. thioglycollic, thiolactic and thiomalic acids by tetrabutylammonium tribromide (TBATB) has been studied in acetic acid. The reaction is first order with respect to TBATB. Michaelis-Menten type of kinetics were observed 'Aid' respect to the reductants. The reaction has been studied in solvents of different compositions of acetic acid and water. The solvent composition effect has been analysed using Grunwald-Weinstein equation. A mechanism involving the formation of an intermediate complex in the pre-equilibrium and its subsequent decomposition in slow step has been proposed.