OXIDATION OF SOME DISUBSTITUTED DIPHENYL SULFOXIDES WITH SODIUM N-BROMOBENZENE SULFONAMIDE IN PRESENCE OF MERCURY (II) - A KINETIC AND MECHANISTIC STUDY

Kinetics of bromamine-B (BAB) oxidation of some p- and p'-disubstitute d sulphoxides, to give the corresponding sulphones, have been studied in aqueous acetic acid medium. A first order dependence on the concent ration of each reactant was observed. Rate data showed an inverse depe ndence on [benzene sulphonamide] and a fractional order in [H+]. The r eactions are little affected by the addition of Hg(II), ruling out the catalytic role. A negative rho value suggests the sulphur becoming e' ectron-deficient in the transition state. The rate-limiting step invol ves the interaction of the substrate and [H2OBr+] species.