Polyethylene Glycol–Mediated Kinetic Study of Nitrodecarboxylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Acids by Blau's Fe(III) Bipy Complex

A kinetic and mechanistic study of nitro decarboxylation of α,β‐unsaturated acids (USA) has been taken up by Blau's yellow complex [Fe(III) nitrate–Bipy] in polyethylene glycol (PEG)–acetonitrile media. Kinetics of the reactions indicated a rate law: rate = ab[Fe (III)][Bipy][USA]/(1 + b [Bipy]), that represents the Michaelis–Menten type mechanism. Reaction rates are significantly influenced by the structural variation and concentration of PEG. The mechanism of PEG‐mediated reaction was explained through the formation of more active [PEG bound Fe(III) nitrate–Bipy species] than [Fe (III) nitrate–Bipy] itself. Formation of [PEG bound Fe(III) nitrate–Bipy species] could be due to the interaction of polyoxyethylene glycolate moiety with [Fe (III) nitrate–Bipy species] in the lines of nonionic micellar interactions.