Abstract: | The oxidation of thioglycolic, thiolactic, and thiomalic acids by benzyltrimethylammonium dichloroiodate (BTMAIC) to the corresponding disulfide dimer, is first-order with respect to each the thioacid and BTMAIC. The rates of oxidation were determined at different temperatures and the activation parameters were evaluated. The reaction failed to induce polymerization of acrylonitrile. The reaction rate increases with the increase in the concentration of zinc chloride. Addition of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride enhances the reaction rate. Suitable mechanism has been proposed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |