Oxidation of glycine by diperiodatocuprate(III) in aqueous alkaline medium

Abstract

Oxidation of the amino acid, glycine, by diperiodatocuprate(III) is studied spectrophotometrically in alkaline medium at constant ionic strength (0.20 mol dm^-3) and at varying temperatures (298-318 K). The reaction between diperiodatocuprate(III) and glycine in aqueous alkaline medium exhibits 1:4 stoichiometry. Intervention of free radicals is observed in the reaction. Mechanism involving monoperiodatocuprate(III) as the reactive oxidant species, proceeding through the formation of a complex is proposed. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism and activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the mechanism are computed and discussed. The thermodynamic quantities are also determined for the various equilibrium steps. The isokinetic temperature is found to be 381 K.