Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of neutral α ‐amino acids by sodium N‐chloro‐p‐toluenesulfonamide in acid medium

Kinetics of oxidation of α ‐amino acids, glycine, valine, alanine, and phenylalanine, by sodium N‐chloro‐p‐toluenesulfonamide or chloramine‐T (CAT) has been investigated in HClO₄ medium at 30°C. The rate shows first‐order dependence on both CAT and amino acid concentrations and an inverse first‐order on [H⁺]. The variation of ionic strength and the addition of p‐toluenesulfonamide and Cl^? ion had no effect on the reaction rate. Decrease of dielectric constant of the medium by increasing the MeOH content decreased the rate. Rate studies in D₂O medium showed the inverse solvent‐isotope effect of k_D2O/k_H2O=0.50. Proton‐inventory studies were carried out using H₂O–D₂O mixtures. The activation parameters have been computed. The proposed mechanism and the derived rate law are consistent with the observed kinetic data. An isokinetic relationship is observed with β=323 K, indicating enthalpy as a controlling factor. The rate of oxidation increases in the following order: Gly < Val < Phe < Ala. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 49–55, 2002