A kinetic study of the 1, 10-phenanthroline-catalysed iron(III) oxidation of epimeric aldo-, and D-, and L-ketohexoses

Summary Fe^III in H₂SO₄ medium does not oxidize sugars even at the reflux temperature, however, the reaction is catalysed by trace amounts of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). A kinetic study shows that the oxidation rate increases as phen] increases and exhibits a fractional order dependence upon phen]. The orders with respect to Fe^III] and carbohydrate] are unity. The oxidation rate decreases as HSO^4/–] and H₂SO₄] increase. A plausible mechanism is proposed involving participation of an Fe^III-phen] precursor and sugar in the rate-determining step.