Ruthenium(III) catalysed oxidation of cyclohexanol by acidic NaIO4

The kinetic investigations on Ru(III) catalysed oxidation of cyclohexanol by acidic solution of sodium periodate in the presence of mercury(II) acetate as a scavenger have been made in the temperature range of 30-50°C. The rate shows first order kinetics both in iodate and Ru(III) while order of the reaction is zero with respect to substrate and hydrogen ions. Insignificant influence of mercury(II) acetate and ionic strength of the medium was observed while the reaction showed positive effect of [Cl - ] on the reaction rate. A suitable mechanism in conformity with the kinetic observations has been proposed and the thermodynamic parameters computed.