KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF THE HYDROXYLATION OF TOLUENE CATALYZED BY A RUTHENIUM(III) ANALOG OF THE UDENFRIEND SYSTEM - RU(III) EDTA ASCORBATE MOLECULAR-OXYGEN

The hydroxylation of toluene to cresols by molecular oxygen is catalyzed by the Ru(III) analogue of the model Udenfriend system: Ru(III)-EDTA-ascorbic acid. The hydroxylation was investigated at 30 degree C and mu equals 0. 1 M KNO//3 in a 50% (v/v) mixture of 1, 4-dioxane and water in the pH range 1. 50-2. 50. The kinetic study of the reaction shows a first-order dependence in the concentrations of Ru(III)-EDTA, ascorbic acid, molecular oxygen and the substrate toluene. The rate of reaction was found to increase linearly with an increase in pH, and is inverse first order in hydrogen ion concentration in the pH range 1. 50-2. 50.