Oxidation of clindamycin phosphate by chromium(VI) in aqueous sulfuric acid medium—A kinetic and mechanistic study

AbstractKinetics and mechanism of oxidation of clindamycin phosphate by potassium dichromate in aqueous sulfuric acid medium is studied spectrophotometrically at 25°C at a constant ionic strength of 3.60 mol dm−3. The stoichiometry of the reaction is determined and it was found that one mole of clindamycin phosphate consumes two moles of chromium(VI) (1:2). The oxidation products are characterized and confirmed by spectral studies such as IR, GC-MS and LC-MS. The reaction is first order each in chromium(VI) and clindamycin phosphate concentrations. An increase in the sulfuric acid concentration causes an increase of the reaction rate. The order with respect to acid concentration is found to be 1.65. From the results of kinetic studies, reaction stoichiometry and product analysis a suitable free radical mechanism is proposed. Based on investigation of the reaction at different temperatures, computation of the activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the proposed mechanism was evaluated.