Oxidation by cobalt(III) acetate. Part 5. Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidative cleavage of hydrobenzoins

Abstract

The mechanism of the oxidative cleavage of hydrobenzoin by cobalt(III) acetate in acetic acid has been studied by following the kinetics of the reaction. The rate is first order in cobalt(III) acetate, inverse first order in cobalt(II) ion, and first order in substrate. DL-Hydrobenzoin is oxidized 4.5 times faster than the meso-isomer. A mechanism involving a bidentate complex formed from the reaction of cobalt(III) acetate dimer with glycol is discussed.