Kinetics and Mechanism of Mn II Catalyzed Periodate Oxidation of 2, 3-Xylidine in Acetone-Water Medium

The main reaction product of the reaction between periodate and 2,3-xylidine catalysed by Mn II in acetone-water medium is 2, 3-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone. One mol of 2, 3-xylidine (DMA) reacts with two moles of periodate during the initial part of reaction. The kinetics has been followed by monitoring the increase in the absorbance of reaction intermediate. The reaction is first order in reactants and catalyst each. A decrease in dielectric constant of the medium results in decrease in the rate of reaction. Free radical scavengers do not affect the reaction rate. The values of thermodynamic parameters are: ∆E = 24.21 kJ mol -1 , A = 1.15 × 10 9 dm 3 mol -1 s -1