KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF OXIDATION OF DL-ALPHA-ALANINE BY PERMANGANATE ION IN ACID PERCHLORATE-MEDIA

The kinetics of permanganate oxidation of DL-alpha-alanine in aqueous perchloric acid solution at a constant ionic strength of 2.0 mol dm-3 has been investigated spectrophotometrically. The reaction was found to show second-order kinetics overall with respect to each of the reactants in the slow initial stage; the second-order kinetics are not, however, maintained throughout the relatively fast final stage of reaction. The added salts lead to the prediction that Mn(III) and (or) Mn(IV) play a very important role in the reaction kinetics. A tentative mechanism consistent with the kinetics is discussed.