Oxidation of α-Amino Acids with Sodium N-Bromo-p-Toluene Sulphonamide : A Kinetic Study

Department of Post-graduate Studies & Research in Chemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore-570 006

Manuscript received 16 June 1983, revised 19 November 1983, accepted 13 February 1984

Kinetic investigations of the oxidation of glycine, valine, alanine and leucine by-sodium N-bromo-p-toluenesulfonamide or bromamine-T (BAT) have been made in acetate buffer of $\mathcal{p}$H 6 (isoelectric $\mathcal{p}$H) at 35^o. The rate shows a first order dependence on oxidant concentration but is fractional in [amino acid]. The influence of halide ions, ionic strength,$\mathcal{p}$-toluenesulfonamide and varying dielectric constant of medium on the rate has been studied. The formation constant (K₁ ) and decomposition constant (k₂ ) of the amino acid-BAT complex have been determined at different temperatures and linear free energy relations have been tested. The rate of oxidation increases in the order leucine > alanine > valine > glycine.