Mechanism of (Salen)manganese(III)-Catalyzed Oxidation of Aryl Phenyl Sulfides with Sodium Hypochlorite

A Kinetic Study on the Efficient Formation of High-Valent Mn(TPPS)-oxo Complexes by Various Oxidants

New, more efficient methods of wastewater treatment, which will limit the harmful effects of textile dyes on the natural environment, are still being sought. Significant research work suggests that catalysts based on transition metal complexes can be used in efficient and environmentally friendly processes. In this context, a number of compounds containing manganese have been investigated. A suitable catalyst should have the capacity to activate a selected oxidant or group of oxidants, in order to be used in industrial oxidation reactions. In the present study we investigated the ability of MnIII(TPPS), where TPPS = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulphonatophenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrine, to activate five different oxidants, namely hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, sodium hypochlorite, potassium peroxomonosulfate and sodium perborate, via the formation of high valent Mn(TPPS)-oxo complexes. Kinetic and spectroscopic data showed that the oxidation process is highly pH dependent and is strongly accelerated by the presence of carbonate in the reaction mixture for three of the five oxidizing agents. The highest efficiency for the oxidation of MnIII(TPPS) to high-valent Mn(TPPS)-oxo complexes, was found for peracetic acid at pH ≈ 11 in 0.5 M carbonate solution, which is at least an order of magnitude higher than the rate constants found for the other tested oxidants under similar conditions.

Electrophilic and nucleophilic pathways in ligand oxide mediated reactions of phenylsulfinylacetic acids with oxo(salen)chromium(V) complexes

The mechanism of oxidative decarboxylation of phenylsulfinylacetic acids (PSAA) by oxo(salen)Cr(V)+ ion in the presence of ligand oxides has been studied spectrophotometrically in acetonitrile medium. Addition of ligand oxides (LO) causes a red shift in the λ max values of oxo(salen) complexes and an increase in absorbance with the concentration of LO along with a clear isobestic point. The reaction shows first-order dependence on oxo(salen)-chromium(V)+ ion and fractional-order dependence on PSAA and ligand oxide. Michaelis-Menten kinetics without kinetic saturation was observed for the reaction. The order of reactivity among the ligand oxides is picoline N-oxide > pyridine N-oxide > triphenylphosphine oxide. The low catalytic activity of TPPO was rationalized. Both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents in the phenyl ring of PSAA facilitate the reaction rate. The Hammett plots are non-linear upward type with negative ρ value for electron-donating substituents, (ρ - = -0.740 to -4.10) and positive ρ value for electron-withdrawing substituents (ρ + = +0.057 to +0.886). Non-linear Hammett plot is explained by two possible mechanistic scenarios, electrophilic and nucleophilic attack of oxo(salen)chromium(V)+-LO adduct on PSAA as the substituent in PSAA is changed from electron-donating to electron-withdrawing. The linearity in the log k vs. E ox plot confirms single-electron transfer (SET) mechanism for PSAAs with electron-donating substituents.