Kinetics of the autoxidation of anthranol to anthraquinone in buffered aqueous dioxan

Abstract

Uncatalysed autoxidation of anthranol to anthraquinone has been studied kinetically in alkaline buffered aqueous dioxan at ca 35° by means of a manometric method. The rate at pH 9·50–10·60 is expressed as: v = k [Anthrone][OH −] p, where p is the partial pressure of oxygen. The observed results suggest a mechanism which involves a rate-determining attack of molecular oxygen on anthranol anion to form anthranyl oxide radical, which is rapidly oxidized to give anthraquinone.