Kinetics and Mechanism of the Oxidation of Substituted Benzaldehydes by Bis(2,2‘-bipyridylyl)copper(II) Permanganate

Abstract

The oxidation of 35 monosubstituted benzaldehydes by bis(2,2‘-bipyridylyl)copper(II) permanganate (BBCP) in aqueous acetic acid leads to the formation of the corresponding benzoic acids. The reaction is first order with respect to BBCP. Michaelis−Menten-type kinetics were observed with respect to the aldehyde concentrations. The oxidation of [2H]benzaldehyde (PhCDO) indicated the presence of a substantial kinetic isotope effect. The rates of oxidation of meta- and para-substituted benzaldehydes were correlated in terms of Charton's triparametric LDR equation, whereas the oxidation of ortho-substituted benzaldehydes was correlated with the four parametric LDRS equation. The oxidation of para-substituted benzaldehydes is more susceptible to the delocalization effect than is the oxidation of ortho- and meta-substituted compounds which displays a greater dependence on the field effect. The positive value of η suggests the presence of an electron-deficient reaction center in the rate-determining activated complex. The reaction is subjected to steric acceleration when ortho-substituents are present.