Mechanistic and Spectral Studies of the Ruthenium(III) Catalysed Oxidation of Sulfanilic Acid by Alkaline Hexacyanoferrate(III)

Summary. The kinetics of ruthenium(III) catalysed oxidation of sulfanilic acid (p-aminobenzenesulfonic acid) by hexacyanoferrate(III) in alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 2.5mol·dm^–3 has been studied spectrophotometrically using a rapid kinetic accessory. The reaction exhibits 2:8 stoichiometry (SNA:HCF(III)). The reaction showed first order kinetics in [hexacyanoferrate(III)] and [ruthenium(III)] and apparent less than unit order in both sulfanilic acid and alkali concentrations. The reaction rate increases with increasing ionic strength but the relative permittivity (_T) of the medium has a negligible effect on the rate of the reaction. Initial addition of reaction products did not affect the rate significantly. A mechanism involving the formation of a complex between sulfanilic acid and hydroxylated species of ruthenium(III) has been proposed. The active species of HCF(III) and ruthenium(III) are understood as [Fe(CN)₆^3–] and [Ru(H₂O)₅OH]²⁺, respectively. The main products were identified by IR, NMR, and mass spectral studies. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of mechanism are calculated. The activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the mechanism are computed and discussed and thermodynamic quantities are also calculated.