OXIDATION OF ALIPHATIC ESTERS BY SODIUM N-BROMOBENZENESULFONAMIDE - A KINETIC-STUDY

Kinetics of oxidation of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl and n-butyl acetates by bromamine-B (BAB) have been studied in aqueous HCl medium at 40-degrees-C. The reaction rate shows first order dependence in [oxidant] and fractional order each in [H+] and [ester]. Added halide ions and the reaction product benzenesulphonamide and variation of ionic strength and dielectric constant of medium do not have any significant effect on the rate. The oxidation of esters follows two mechanistic pathways namely an acid-independent and an acid-dependent path. A mechanism consistent with experimental results has been proposed.