Kinetics and mechanisms of the oxidation by permanganate of L‐Phenylalanine

Abstract

AbstractThe oxidation of L‐Phenylalanine by permanganate ion in aqueous phosphate buffers is autocatalized by the inorganic reaction product, which is stabilized in solution by adsorption of phosphate ions on its surface. This product is a soluble form of colloidal manganese dioxide. The rate of the noncatalytic reaction pathway is first‐order in both the oxidizing and reducing agent. It is not affected by potassium chloride addition to the solution, but by phosphate addition. The rate increases with the pH of the medium. The autocatalytic pathway is first‐order in both permanganate ion and colloidal manganese dioxide, (the permanganate ion according to the Langmuir isotherm). The autocatalytic rate increases with reductant concentration (follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm). It is not affected by potassium chloride addition to the solution, whereas an increase in the phosphate concentration results in an increase in the rate with the same pH of the medium. Mechanisms consistent with the experimental data are proposed.