Kinetics and mechanism of the ruthenium(III)-catalysed oxidation of aminoalcohols by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III)

Summary The kinetics of the ruthenium(III)-catalysed oxidation of aminoalcoholsviz. 2-aminoethanol and 3-aminopropanol by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) has been studied spectrophotometrically. The reactions are rapid initially, then follow a second order rate dependence with respect to each of the catalyst and the oxidant. The second order rate dependence with respect to ruthenium(III) was observed for the first time. The order in Aminoalcohol] and OH^–] is unity in each case. A suitable mechanism, consistent with the observed kinetic data is postulated.