Oxidation of some thioacids by tetraethylammonium chlorochromate : A kinetic and mechanistic study

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

E-mail : drpkvs27@yahoo.com

Department of Chemistry, P.B. Siddharth College, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Manuscript received 5 June 2009, accepted 21 July 2009

The oxidation or thioglycollic, thiolactic and thiomalic acids by tetraethylammonium chlorochromate (TEACC) is first order both in (TEACC) and thioacids. The reaction is catalysed by hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ion dependence has taking the form : K_obs = a + b [H⁺]. The oxidation of thiolactic add has been studied in nineteen different organic solvents. The solvent effect has been analysed by using Kamlet's and Swain's multiparametric equations. A mechanism involving the formation of a thioester and its decomposition in slow step has been proposed.