RUTHENIUM(VI)-CATALYZED OXIDATION OF DIOLS BY ALKALINE HEXACYANOFERRATE(III) ION - A KINETIC-STUDY

The kinetics of Ru-VI-catalysed oxidation of ethane-1,2-diol, propane- 1,3-diol, butane-1,3-diol, butane-1,4-diol and 2-butoxyethanol by hexa cyanoferrate(III) ion in an aqueous alkaline medium at constant ionic strength shows zeroth order dependence on hexacyanoferrate(III) and fi rst order dependence on Ru-VI and substrate. The results suggest that a complex is formed, between Ru-VI and the diol, which slowly decompos es to a reduced form of ruthenium, which is reoxidized to Ru-VI in a f ast step by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III). A plausible reaction mecha nism is proposed.