Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of chlorocomplex of Ru(III) and Ir(III) catalyzed oxidation of d-fructose by N-bromophthalimide in acidic medium

The kinetic and mechanistic studies of Ru(III) and Ir(III) homogeneously catalyzed oxidation of d-fructose (d-fru) by N-bromophthalimide (NBP) in the presence of aqueous perchloric acid medium have been made at 303 K using mercuric acetate as Br− ion scavenger. The stoichiometry and the oxidation products in both catalysts were found to be the same. The determined stoichiometric ratio was found to be 1:2 ([d-fru]:[NBP]). Arabinonic and formic acids were obtained as the major oxidized products of both the reactions. The kinetics of the reaction were studied as a function of temperature, ionic strength, concentration of the salt, concentration of the added reaction product, and the dielectric constant of the medium to learn the mechanistic aspects of the reaction. Possible mechanisms are proposed, which are consistent with the kinetics, stoichiometry and products of the reaction.