A kinetic and mechanistic study of the oxidation of tyrosine by chromium(VI) in aqueous perchloric acid medium

The oxidation of tyrosine by chromium(VI) in aqueous perchloric acid medium has been studied spectrophotometrically at 30 °C and at a constant ionic strength I = 3.10 mol dm⁻³. The main reaction products were identified as chromium(III) and 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde. The stoichiometry is 2:3, i.e., two moles of chromium(VI) react with three moles of tyrosine. The reaction is first order with respect to both chromium(VI) and tyrosine. Increase in perchloric acid concentration increased the rate of reaction. The order with respect to acid concentration was found to be two. Added products, ionic strength and dielectric constant of the medium did not have any significant effect on the reaction rate. A suitable mechanism is proposed. The activation parameters were determined with respect to the slow step of the mechanism. The thermodynamic quantities were also determined and discussed.