Oxidation of Some 1-Aryl Ethanols Using Permanganate in Aqueous Acetic Acid Medium: A Kinetic Study

Abstract

Kinetic studies on the permanganate oxidation of some 1-aryl
carbinols in aqueous acetic medium have been carried out. The
reaction showed first order dependence with respect to both the
oxidant and the substrate concentration. The rate increased with
increase in the [H⁺] but with a complex order. Effects of ionic
strength and dielectric constant of the medium have been investigated.
The effects of the various substituents at the para position
of the benzene ring gave quite interesting results and were not in
conformity with the Hammett equation. Both the electron-releasing'
and the electron-withdrawing groups have been found to enhance
the rate. A plausible mechanism guided by frontier molecular orbital
theory was suggested.