Kinetics and mechanism of ruthenium(III) catalyzed oxidation of L-proline by copper(III): A free radical intervention and decarboxylation

The kinetics of ruthenium(III) catalyzed oxidation of L-proline by diperiodatocuprate(III) (DPC) in alkaline medium at constant ionic strength (0.10 mol dm⁻³) has been studied spectrophotometrically using a rapid kinetic accessory. The reaction showed first order kinetics in [DPC] and [Ru^III] and apparently less than unit order dependence each in L-proline and alkali concentrations. A mechanism involving the formation of a complex between the L-proline and the hydroxylated species of ruthenium (III) has been proposed. The active species of oxidant and catalyst were [Cu(OH)₂ (H₃IO₆)₂ (H₂IO₆)₂]⁴⁻ and [Ru (H₂O)₅OH]²⁺ respectively. The reaction constants involved in the mechanism were evaluated. The activation parameters were computed with respect to the slow step of the mechanism and discussed. The text was submitted by the authors in English.