meso-TETRAPHENYLIRONPORPHYRIN(III) CHLORIDE CATALYZED OXIDATION OF ANILINE AND ITS SUBSTITUENTS BY m-CHLOROPERBENZOIC ACID

The most fascinating feature of heme-enzymes such as cytochromes P450 is their ability to carry out oxidations with high selectivity. Metalloporphyrin complexes are used as replicate compounds for cytochrome P450. A kinetic analysis has been carried out with the aim of understanding the mechanistic studies on oxidation of anilines by m-chloroperbenzoic acid catalyzed by meso-tetraphenylironporphyrin(III) chloride in aqueous acetic acid medium. The order of the reaction is found to be second order with respect to the substrate and first order with respect to the catalyst and oxidant. Product analysis proves that azobenzene is the sole product in the catalytic oxidation. The increase of [H+] in this oxidation retards the rate of the reaction. The effects of substituents on the oxidation rate are studied with 19 ortho-, meta- and para- substituted anilines at five different temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters for the oxidation have been determined and discussed. The catalysed m-chloroperbenzoic acid oxidation with substituted anilines fulfills the isokinetic relationship and Exner correlation but not to any of the linear free energy relationships. The solvent interaction also plays a major role in leading the reactivity. Based on the kinetic results and product analysis a probable mechanism is proposed.