RUTHENIUM(VIII) CATALYZED OXIDATION OF SOME ORGANIC SUBSTRATES

Ruthenium(VIII) oxide catalysed oxidation of methanal, ethanol, hexyle ne glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol by aqueo us alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) shows zero order kinetics in [oxidan t] and inverse proportionality in [OH-]. Reaction throughout shows fir st order with respect to [Hexylene glycol] and [Glycerol] while in cas e of the ramaining four substrates, after showing first order kinetics initially the reaction becomes independant with respect to methanol, ethanol, diethylene glycol and triethylene glycol at their higher conc entrations. An outer sphere mechanism via hydride ion transfer has bee n proposed.