Kinetics of the oxidation of aliphatic aldehydes by Os(VIII) in alkaline solution

Kinetics of oxidation of six aliphatic aldehydes by Os(VIII) in alkaline solutions have been studied. The reaction is of first order with respect to each of the aldehyde and Os(VIII). The pseudo-first order rate constants decreased with an increase in the concentration of hydroxyl ions. The oxidation of deuterioacetaldehyde (MeCDO) exhibited a substantial primary kinetic isotope effect. Separate rate constants for the oxidation of hydrate and free aldehyde forms have been evaluated. The aldehyde hydrate is postulated as the active reductant. Ionic strength has no noticable effect on the rate. The rate-determining step is, therefore, postulated to be a bimolecular reaction between the aldehyde hydrate and [OsO₄(OH)₂]^?2. The value of the limiting rate constant exhibited an excellent correlation with Taft σ* values; reaction constant being negative. A mechanism involving transfer of a hydride ion from the aldehyde hydrate to Os(VIII) has been proposed.     

Improved microcombustion technique for nitrogen estimation in heterocyclic compounds

Summary An improved microcombustion technique is described for nitrogen estimation in heterocyclic compounds by use of a modified Dumas filling.

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Zusammenfassung Eine verbesserte Mikroverbrennungstechnik für Stickstoffbestimmungen in heterocyklischen Verbindungen unter Verwendung einer modifizierten Dumas-Füllung wurde beschrieben.

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Communication No. 1663 from the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of substituted benzaldehydes by benzyltrimethylammonium chlorobromate

The oxidation of 35 monosubstituted benzaldehydes by benzyltrimethylammonium chlorobromate (BTMACB) in aqueous acetic acid leads to the formation of the corresponding benzoic acids. The reaction is first order with respect to both benzaldehyde and BTMACB. The reaction failed to induce the polymerization of acrylonitrile. There is no effect of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride or potassium bromide on the reaction rate. The oxidation of [(2)H]benzaldehyde (PhCDO) indicated the presence of a substantial kinetic isotope effect. The effect of solvent composition indicated that the reaction rate increases with an increase in the polarity of the solvent. The rates of oxidation of meta- and para-substituted benzaldehydes were correlated in terms of Charton's triparametric LDR equation, whereas the oxidation of ortho-substituted benzaldehydes was correlated with the tetraparametric LDRS equation. The oxidation of para-substituted benzaldehydes is more susceptible to the delocalization effect, whereas the oxidation of ortho-and meta-substituted compounds displayed a greater dependence on the field effect. The positive value of eta suggests the presence of an electron-deficient reaction center in the rate-determining step. The reaction is subjected to steric hindrance by the ortho substituents.