Catalytic Effect of Transition Metal Ions on the Oxidation of Some Aliphatic Alcohols

D. V. Prabhu

Department of Chemistry, Wilson College, Mumbai - 400 007 (India)

The kinetics of oxidation of the aliphatic alcohols 1 - propanol and 1 - butanol using Chloramine B (in HCI) has been studied in the micellar phase using sodium dodecyl sulphate in the temperature range 30-50°C. Literature survey shows that expensive Ru (VIII) and Os (VIII) have been routinely used to oxidise alcohols. In the present study, less expensive Ni (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II) ions have been used as effective catalysts for the oxidation of aliphatic alcohols. Suitable reaction mechanisms have been proposed for the oxidation of alcohols in the presence and absence of transition metal ion catalysts. The oxidation rate has been correlated with the chain length of the aliphatic alcohols under study.

Aliphatic alcohols; oxidation; micellar phase; transition metal ions