Oxidative decarboxylation and deamination of essential amino acids by N-Bromonicotinamide- A kinetic study

Postgraduate and Research Department of Chemistry, National College, Trichy-620 001, Tamilnadu, India

E-mail : lathaa_ramesh@yahoo.com Fax : 91-431-2482995

Manuscript received 22 December 2008, revised 4 February 2009, accepted 5 February 2009

The kinetics of oxidation of valine, leucine, isoleucine and phenylalanine by N-Bromonicotinamide (NBN) in acetic acid-water in presence of hydrochloric acid has been studied. The reaction shows inverse order dependence on oxidant and [H⁺]. Increase in [amino acid) has a slight positive effect on the rate, Indicating fractional order dependence. Addition of salts like K₂SO₄, Na₂SO₄, KCl to the reaction medium has no effect on the rate. Increase in temperature increases the rate of the reaction. The activition parameters have been computed. A mechanism consistent with the results has been proposed.