Kinetics of oxidation of amino acids by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III)

Abstract

The kinetics of oxidation of amino acids (lysine, arginine, and histidine) by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) has been studied at constant ionic strength over the temperature range 318–338 K. The rate was dependent on the first powers of the concentrations of substrate and oxidant, but independent of the concentration of the alkali in the range studied. The reaction proceeds by way of the α-imino acid, formed in a rapid step, which then undergoes hydrolysis to give the corresponding α-keto acid.