Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of 1,2-Butanediol or Mephenesin by Ditelluratocuprate（Ⅲ） in Alkaline Media

The kinetics of the oxidation of 1,2-butanediol or mephenesin by ditelluratocuprate（Ⅲ）（DTC） was investigated spectrophotometrically at temperatures between 283.2―303.2 K in alkaline media. The reaction rate showed first order dependence in DTC and fractional order in 1,2-butanediol or mephenesin. It was shown that the pseudo- first-order rate constant kobs increased with an increase in concentration of OH– and a decrease in concentration of TeO42–. The reaction has a negative salt effect. A plausible mechanism of reaction involving a pre-equilibrium of adduct formation between the complex and 1,2-butanediol or mephenesin was proposed. The rate equations derived from the mechanism can explain all the experimental phenomena. The activation parameters for the rate-determining step were also calculated.