Oxidation of Cinnamic Acid by Quinolinium Fluorochromate

Abstract

The oxidation of Cinnamic acid with Quinolinium Fluorochromate under pseudo-first order conditions has been studied at 313 K. The reaction shows first order dependence with respect to oxidant, substrate and acid catalyzed by H+. Increase in ionic strength has no effect on the reaction rate and decrease in the dielectric constant of the medium decreases the reaction rate. There is no possibility of free radical mechanism since there is no polymerization of acrylonitrile. Increase in the concentration of manganous sulphate retards the reaction rate which confirms the two electron transfer involved in the mechanism. A possible mechanism has been proposed in the formation of Benzaldehyde and Glyoxalic acid.