Mn II Catalyzed Periodate oxidation of N, N-dimethyl-p-toluidine - A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study.

One mol of N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine(DMT) reacts with two moles of periodate during the initial part of reaction. The main reaction product is 4-methyl-1, 2-benzoquinone. The kinetics of the Mn II catalyzed periodate oxidation of DMT in acetone-water medium 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 = 6.58 kJ mol -1