A study of the kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of L-tryptophan by diperiodatonickelate(IV) in aqueous alkaline medium

The kinetics of oxidation of L-tryptophan by diperiodatonickelate(IV) (DPN) in an aqueous alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 0.30 mol dm(-3) was studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction was first order in diperiodatonickelate(IV) and less than first order in tryptophan and the OH- ion. The addition of periodate had no effect on the reaction, and nickel(II) produced did not influence the reaction rate significantly. An increase in ionic strength and decrease in medium permittivity did not affect the reaction rate. A mechanism involving the formation of a complex between L-tryptophan and reactive DPN species was proposed. The constants characterizing the mechanism were evaluated. The activation parameters for the slow reaction step were computed and discussed.