Environmental Effect of Macrocyclic Molecules on the Oxidation of Triethylamine by Ferricyanide Ion in Aqueous Solution

The effect of 18-crown-6 and kryptofix (2,2,1) on the oxidation of triethylamine byaqueous ferricyanide ion has been studied at pH 4, 7, and 9.The macrocycle retarded the normal oxidation process at all pH values,the effect depending on the macrocyclic ligand concentration Kryptofix (2,2,1) had a greater effect than 18-crown-6 at all pHvalues in this study. For 18-crown-6, retardation decreases in the order pH 9 > 4 > 7 while forkryptofix it follows the order pH 9 > 7 > 4.