Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of DL-methionine by quinolinium fluorochromate

The oxidation of methionine (Met) by quinolinium fluorochromate (QFC) in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) leads to the formation of corresponding sulphoxide. The reaction is of first order with respect to QFC. Michaelis-Menten type kinetics was observed with respect to methionine. The reaction is catalysed by hydrogen ions. The hydrogen-ion dependence has the form : k o b s = a + b [H + ]. The oxidation of methionine was studied in nineteen different organic solvents. The solvent effect was analyzed by Kamlet's and Swain's multiparametric equations. Solvent effect indicated the importance of the cation-solvating power of the solvent. A suitable mechanism has also been postulated.