Correlation analysis of reactivity in the oxidation of methionine by benzimidazolium fluorochromate in different mole fractions of acetic acid-water mixture

The kinetics of oxidation of methionine (Met) by benzimidazolium fluorochromate (BIFC) has been studied in the presence of chloroacetic acid. The reaction is first order with respect to methionine, BIFC and acid. The reaction rate has been determined at different temperatures and activation parameters calculated. With an increase in the mole fraction of acetic acid in its aqueous mixture, the rate increases. The solvent effect has been analyzed using the Kamlet's multi parametric equation. A correlation of data with the Kamlet-Taft solvatochromic parameters (α, β, π∗) suggests that the specific solute-solvent interactions play a major role in governing the reactivity. The reaction does not induce polymerization of acrylonitrile. A suitable mechanism has been proposed.