The kinetics and the mechanism of oxidative decarboxylation of benzilic acid by acidic permanganate (stopped-flow technique) An autocatalytic study

The kinetics of the oxidation of benzilic acid by potassium permanganate in an acidic medium were studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction followed a two-stage process, wherein both stages of the reaction followed first-order kinetics with respect to permanganate ion and benzilic acid. The rate of the reaction increased with an increase in acid concentration. Autocatalysis was observed by one of the products, i.e., manganese(II). A composite mechanism involving autocatalysis has been proposed. The activation parameters of the reaction were calculated and discussed and the reaction constants involved in the mechanisms were calculated. There is a good agreement between the observed and calculated rate constants under different experimental conditions.Key words: oxidation, autocatalysis, benzilic acid, two-stage kinetics.