Kinetic and mechanistic study of the reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol by dithionites

The reaction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPI) and dithionites is studied kinetically by applying the stopped-flow technique. Reaction rate constants are given for the pH range 1.30–6.80. The reaction was found to follow first-order kinetics with respect to each of the reactants. For pH 3.97, 5.10 and 6.80, the second-order reaction rate constant was determined by applying four different technique. Mean values of k = 172±5, 200±2 and 276±4 l mol^?1s^?1 are given for pH 3.97, 5.10 and 6.80, respectively. A mechanism is proposed for the reaction, which suggests partial reactions of all possible species of DCPI and dithionites at any pH. An equation for the calculation of k at any pH is derived, which gives k as a function of H⁺], the partial reaction rate constants and the dissociation constants of DCPI and H₂S₂O₄. Values of reaction rate constants of all possible partial reactions are also presented.