Oxidation by Permanganate in strong alkaline medium. Oxidation of ethane-1,2-diol,glycol aldehyde,glycollic acid,and glyoxylic acid

A study was made on the kinetics and mechanism of the reaction in aqueous solutions of 0.10 to 2.0 mol dm^?3 alkaline concentrations. The substrates (S) applied were ethane-1,2-diol (ethylene glycol), glycol aldehyde, glycollic acid, and glyoxylic acid. Glycol aldehyde and glyoxylic acid were present in the form of dihydrate. In each case alkoxy anion is the reactive form and the K_B constant of deprotonation can be calculated from the kinetic data. A mechanism based on electron abstraction is suggested. Manganate reacts with these substrates much slower than permanganate.