Kinetics of the Oxidation ofD-Glucose and Cellobiose by Acidic Solution ofN-Bromoacetamide Using Transition Metal Complex Species, [RuCl3(H2O)2OH] −, as Catalyst

The kinetics of Ru(III)-catalyzed and Hg(II)-co-catalyzed oxidation of D-glucose (Glc) and cellobiose (Cel) by N-bromoacetamide (NBA) in the presence of perchloric acid at 40 °C have been investigated. The reactions exhibit the first order kinetics with respect to NBA, but tend towards the zeroth order to higher NBA. The reactions are the first order with respect to Ru(III) and are fractional positive order with respect to [reducing sugar]. Positive effect of Cl− and Hg(OAc)2 on the rate of reaction is also evident in the oxidation of both reducing sugars. A negative effect of variation of H+ and acetamide was observed whereas the ionic strength (µ) of the medium had no influence on the oxidation rate. The rate of reaction decreased with the increase in dielectric constant and this enabled the computation of dAB, the size of the activated complex. Various activation parameters have been evaluated and suitable explanation for the formation of the most reactive activated complex has been given. The main products of the oxidation are the corresponding arabinonic acid and formic acid. HOBr and [RuCl3(H2O)2OH]− were postulated as the reactive species of oxidant and catalyst respectively. A common mechanism, consistent with the kinetic data and supported by the observed effect of ionic strength, dielectric constant and multiple regression analysis, has been proposed. Formation of complex species such as [RuCl3·S·(H2O)OH]− and RuCl3·S·OHgBr·OH during the course of reaction was fully supported by kinetic and spectral evidences.