Mechanism of oxidation of diazepam by 1-chlorobenzotriazole in acidic medium. A kinetic approach

The kinetics of oxidation of diazepam (DZ) by 1-chlorobenzotriazole (CBT) h as been studied in HClO4 medium in the temperature range of 293 - 323 K. Th e reactions followed a first order dependence on [CBT], fractional order ea ch in [H+] and [DZ]. Activation parameters were evaluated. A negative entro py of activation indicated the involvement of a rigid complex in the activa ted state. Variation of reaction rate with dielectric constant and the ioni c strength are consistent with a mechanism involving the decomposition of a dipole in the rate determining step. Rate equation is derived to account f or the observed kinetic data and the proposed reaction mechanism.