Mechanistic and spectroscopic investigations of oxidative degradation of aspirin by aqueous alkaline permanganate

The kinetics of oxidation of aspirin (ASP) by permanganate in alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 0.06 mol dm −3 was studied spectrophotometrically using a rapid kinetic accessory. The reaction between permanganate and aspirin in alkaline medium exhibited 1:4 stoichiometry (aspirin: permanganate). The reaction was of first order in [permanganate ion] and had less than unit order in both [ASP] and [alkali]. A decrease in the dielectric constant of the medium decreased the rate of reaction. The effect of added products and ionic strength of the reaction medium have been investigated. The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a permanganate–aspirin complex, which decomposes slowly in a rate determining step followed by other fast steps to give the products. The main products were identified by spot test and spectroscopic studies. A suitable mechanism is proposed. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism were derived. The activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the mechanism were computed and discussed and thermodynamic quantities were also determined.