Oxidation of naphthalene and phenanthrene by pyridinium fluorochromate (PFC)—a kinetic and mechanistic study

The kinetics of the oxidation of naphthalene and phenanthrene by pyridinium fluorochromate, C5H5NHCrO3F, PFC, has been studied. The main product of the oxidation is the corresponding quinone. While each oxidation, studied in aqueous acetic acid (80–95%, v/v) medium, is first order with respect to the oxidant, the rate is almost independent of the substrate concentration. The reactions are catalyzed by acid, the acid-catalyzed reactions being very fast, which precluded determination of their order in acid medium. The kinetic isotope effect, kH/kD is 5.50 at 303 K for naphthalene. The reaction does not induce polymerization of acrylonitrile. The effects of temperature and solvent compositions were studied and activation parameters evaluated. Probable mechanisms are discussed.

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