Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of furfural by isonicotinium dichromate

The kinetics of oxidation of furfural by isonicotinium dichromate (INDC) has been studied in a 50% (v/v) acetic acid- water medium in the presence of perchloric acid at 303 K. The reaction is first order each in [isonicotinium dichromate], [fur-rural] and hydrogen ion concentration. The rate of oxidation increases with decrease in dielectric constant of solvent suggests ion-dipole interaction. Increase in ionic strength by the addition of sodium perchlorate has no effect on the rate constant. There is no polymerization with acrylonitrile and absence of free radical was proved. Furoic acid has been identified as the product of oxidation.The rate of the reaction has been conducted at four different temperatures and activation parameters were calculated. From the observed kinetic results, a suitable mechanism with rate law has been proposed.