| Abstract: | The oxidation kinetics of 2‐butanol by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) catalyzed by sodium ruthenate has been studied spectrophotometrically. The initial rates method was used for kinetic analysis. The reaction rate shows a fractional‐order in hexacyanoferrate(III)] and substrate] and a first‐order dependence on Ru(VI)]. The dependence on OH−] is rather more complicated. The kinetic data suggest a reaction mechanism involving two active catalytic species. Each one of these species forms an intermediate complex with the substrate. The attack of these complexes by hexacyanoferrate(III), in a slow step, produces ruthenium(V) complexes which are oxidized in subsequent steps to regenerate the catalyst species. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 1–9, 1999 |
