Hydroxylation and mechanistic studies of α, β-unsaturated compounds with alkaline hexacyanoferrate (III)

Abstract

798-801The reactions of three α, β-unsaturated compounds of the type CH2=CHX (where X = -CN, -CONH2 and -C02 -) with alkaline hexacyanoferrate (III) have been studied. The reactions take place according to the rate expression, d[Fe(CN)63-]  / dt = k [Fe(CN)63-) (CH2=CHX] (OH-). The values of k at 318K are 7.2 x 10-4,4.45 X 10-4 and 3.2 x 10-4 (dm6mol-2s-1) in the oxidations of the respective substrates. The oxidation rates follow the order: -CN> -CONH2 > -C02  The substrates are oxidized to give diols under kinetic conditions. Tentative reaction mechanism leading to the formation of oxidation products has been suggested