Oxidation of 6-aminopenicillanic acid by an alkaline copper(III) periodate complex in the absence and presence of ruthenium(III) as a homogeneous catalyst

► A comparative study of uncatalyzed and Ru(III) catalyzed oxidation of 6-APA by DPC(III). ► The main oxidation product was 2 formyl-5,5 dimethyl thiazolidine 4-carboxylic acid. ► Reaction constants for the different steps of the reaction mechanisms were calculated. ► Active species for DPC and Ru(III) were found to be [Cu(H2IO6)(H2O)2] and [Ru(H2O)5OH]2+.