KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF OXIDATION OF BENZYL ALCOHOL AND 2-METHOXY BENZYL ALCOHOL BY CERIC AMMONIUM NITRATE IN ACETONITRILE AQUEOUS MEDIUM

Abstract

The kinetics of oxidation of aromatics alcohols like benzyl alcohol and 2-methoxybenzyl
alcohol to the corresponding aldehydes with ceric ammonium nitrate have been studied
spectrophotometrically at λmax=400nm. The reaction was studied at different concentration of
substrate. First order kinetics observed with respect to [substrate], [oxidant] and [H+
]. The
effect of temperature and solvent composition were studied and the activation parameters
have been calculated. Based on the experimental results, a probable reaction mechanism was
proposed.