Kinetics of oxidation of 4-oxo-4-phenylbutanoic acid by N-chlorosuccinimide in aqueous acetic acid medium

Oxidation of 4-oxo-4-phenylbutanoic acid (4-oxoacid) by N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) has been investigated in 50% acetic acid-50% water (v/v) mixture. The reaction is first order each in [NCS] and [4-oxoacid]. An increase in rate is observed with increase in [W]. A decrease in the dielectric constant of the medium at constant concentration of other reactants has negligible effect on the rate of reaction. Variation in ionic strength of the medium and the addition of one of the reaction products (succinimide) has no significant effect on the rate of the reaction. From the kinetic data obtained at different temperatures, the activation parameters have been computed and a suitable mechanism has been proposed.