Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Sarcosine by Diperiodatocuprate(III) Complex in Alkaline Medium

The kinetics of oxidation of sarcosine by diperiodatocuprate(III) (DPC) was studied with spectrophotometry in a temperature range of 292.2–304.2 K. The reaction between diperiodatocuprate(III) and sarcosine in alkaline medium exhibits 1:1 stoichiometry (DPC:sarcosine). The reaction was found to be first order with respect to both DPC and sarcosine. The observed rate constant (k_obs) decreased with the increase of the [IO^?₄], decreased with the increase of the [OH^?], and then increased with the increase of the [OH^?] after a turning point. There was no salt effect, and free radicals were detected. Based on the experimental results, a mechanism involving the diperiodatocuprate(III) (DPC) as the reactive species of the oxidant has been proposed. The activation parameters, as well as the rate constants of the rate‐determining step, have been calculated.