Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of aspirin by bromamine-T,N-bromosuccinimide,and N-bromophthalimide

The kinetics of the oxidation of aspirin (ASP) by bromamine-T (BAT), N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), and N-bromophthalimide (NBP) has been studied in aqueous perchloric acid at 303 K. The oxidation reaction follows identical kinetics with first-order in [oxidant], fractional-order in [ASP], and inverse fractional-order in [H⁺]. Under identical experimental conditions the extent of oxidation with different oxidizing agents is in the order: NBS>BAT>NBP. The rate decreased with decreasing dielectric constant of the medium. The variation of ionic strength and the addition of the reaction products and halide ions had no significant effect on the reaction rate. The solvent isotope effect was studied using D₂O. Kinetic parameters were evaluated by studying the reaction at different temperatures. The reaction products were identified by GC–MS. The proposed reaction mechanism and the derived rate law are consistent with the observed kinetic data. Formation and decomposition constants for ASP-oxidant complexes have been evaluated. Decarboxylation, bromination, and loss of acetic acid gave 2,4,6-tribromophenol. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 407–414, 1998