Kinetics and Mechanism of the Cerium(IV) Oxidation of Arnold's Base and the Protonation and Hydroxylation of Michler's Hydrol Blue

In aqueous H₂SO₄, Ce(IV) ion oxidizes rapidly Arnold's base((p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₂CH₂, Ar₂CH₂) to the protonated species of Michler's hydrol((p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₂CHOH, Ar₂CHOH) and Michler's hydrol blue((p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₂CH⁺, Ar₂CH⁺). With Ar₂CH₂ in excess, the rate law of the Ce(IV)-Ar₂CH₂ reaction in 0.100 M H₂SO₄ is expressed -d[Ce(IV)]/dt = k_app[Ar₂CH₂]₀[Ce(IV)] with k_app = 199 ± 8M^?1s^?1 at25°C. When the consumption of Ce(IV) ion is nearly complete, the characteristic blue color of Ar₂CH⁺ ion starts to appear; later it fades relatively slowly. The electron transfer of this reaction takes place on the nitrogen atom rather than on the methylene carbon atom. The dissociation of the binuclear complex [Ce(III)ArCHAr-Ce(III)] is responsible for the appearance of the Ar₂CH⁺ dye whereas the protonation reaction causes the dye to fade. In highly acidic solution, the rate law of the protonation reaction of Michler's hydrol blue is -d[Ar₂CH⁺]/dt = k_obs[Ar₂CH⁺] where K_obs = ((ac + 1)[H*] + bc[H⁺]²)/(a + b[H⁺]) (in HClO₄) and k_obs= ((ac + 1 + e[HSO₄^?])[H⁺] + bc[H⁺]² + d[HSO₄^?] + q[HSO₄^?]²/[H⁺])/(a + b[H⁺] + f[HSO₄^?] + g[HSO₄^?]/[H⁺]) (in H₂SO₄), and at 25°C and μ = 0.1 M, a = 0.0870 M s, b = 0.655 s, c = 0.202 M^?1s^?1, d = 0.110, e = 0.0070 M^?1, f = 0.156 s, g = 0.156 s, and q = 0.124. In highly basic solution, the rate law of the hydroxylation reaction of Michler's hydrol blue is -d[Ar₂CH⁺]/dt = k_OH[OH^?]₀[Ar₂CH⁺] with k_OH = 174 ± 1 M^?1s^?1 at 25°C and μ = 0.1 M. The protonation reaction of Michler's hydrol blue takes place predominantly via hydrolysis whereas its hydroxylation occurs predominantly via the path of direct OH attack.