Micelle-catalyzed reaction between ninhydrin and nickel dipeptide complex [Ni(II)–Gly-Tyr]+

The interaction of nickel dipeptide complex [Ni(II)–Gly-Tyr]+ with ninhydrin has been investigated in the absence and presence of cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and gemini (16-s-16, s = 4, 5, 6) surfactants spectrophotometrically at 80 °C and pH 5.0. The product formed was the same and the reaction followed first- and fractional-order kinetics with respect to [Ni(II)–Gly-Tyr]+ and [ninhydrin], respectively, in both aqueous as well as micellar media. In the presence of CTAB, rate increased and reached up to a maximum, then decreased. Also, whereas typical rate constant (kΨ) increase and leveling-off regions, just like CTAB, were observed with geminis, the latter produced a third region of increasing kΨ at higher concentrations. This unusual third-region effect of the gemini micelles is assigned to changes in their micellar morphologies. The micellar catalysis is explained in terms of pseudo-phase model. The binding constants and the values of activation parameters such as activation energy (Ea), enthalpy of activation (ΔH#) and entropy of activation (ΔS#) have been evaluated.

Graphical abstractDependence of reaction rate (kΨ) on [geminis] and inset for [CTAB] for the reaction of ninhydrin with [Ni(II)–Gly-Tyr]+.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Ninhydrin is used to estimate and detect amino acids/peptides. ► This study may open up and stimulate a new path of studying ninhydrin reaction. ► It provides less environmental impact due to use of the geminis.