Oxidative deamination and decarboxylation of L-isomers of amino acids by potassium permanganate in moderately concentrated sulphuric acid medium

Abstract

C. M. D. College, Bilaspur, India Government Autonomous P. G. College, Dhar-454 001, India School of Studies in Chemistry, Vikram University, Ujjain-456 010, India Manuscript received 22 December 1997, revised 8 October 1998, accepted 15 October 1998 The oxidation reactions of L·isomers of amino acids, viz. asparatic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine and glutamine have been carried out in moderately concentrated sulphuric acid medium. The reactions are found to be two-stage processess. In both the stages the reactions follow first order behaviour with respect to each of substrate and permanganate. The reactions are acid-catalysed and the rate is related to the activity of water and also to the acidity function. Primary salt-effect is nil, but at higher concentration of neutral salts the logarithm of the rate constant is linearly related to ionic strength. Specific ionic effects have also been investigated. Activation parameters have been reported. Mechanism pertinent with the observation has been suggested.