The Kinetics and Mechanism of the Oxidation of Aliphatic Aldehydes by Acid Permanganate

The Dyson Pen·ins Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, U.K. Received 1 August 1972 The rate of the oxidation of formaldehyde and chloroacetaldehydes by acid permanganate, in the presence of fluoride ions, is of first order with respect to the aldehyde, the oxidant and hydrogen ions. The activation parameters have been evaluated. The oxidation fails to induce the polymerisation of acrylonitrile. The rate of oxidation is influenced by polar substituents and the reaction constant P is -1.32±0.05 at 25°. The results are discussed in terms of a mechanism involving. rate determining removal of a hydride ion from the aldehyde hydrate