Ruthenium(III) catalyzed oxidation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid by N-bromosuccinimide in aqueous alkaline medium - A kinetic and mechanistic study

The Ru(III) catalyzed oxidation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid by N-bro mosuccinimide in aqueous alkaline medium was found to occur via substrate-c atalyst complex formation in equilibrium step followed by the interaction o f oxidant species and complex in a slow step to yield the products with reg eneration of catalyst. A mechanism involving hypobromate ion as the reactiv e species of the oxidant has been proposed. The rate constants of individua l steps of the reaction mechanism have been evaluated, and used to regenera te rate constants.