Synergistic Impact of Ru(III) and CTAB Micelles on the Oxidation of Isopropyl Alcohol by N-bromosuccinimide

Acetone, an elementary ketone with numerous applications, can be produced from isopropyl alcohol (IPA) through oxidation by a distinct oxidizing agent. The oxidation kinetics of IPA by N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS), facilitated by Ru(III), have been investigated in both the aqueous and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar medium. The reaction’s progression was assessed by quantifying unreacted NBS iodometrically. Throughout the range of concentrations analyzed, the IPA oxidation demonstrates a fractional-order kinetics concerning both [IPA] and [Ru(III)], exhibits negative first-order reliance with respect to [HClO₄], and shows first-order dependence on [NBS]. The observed constancy in oxidation rate with the inclusion of electrolyte suggests a zero salt effect. The fractional order reliance on IPA and Ru(III) suggests that the catalyst and substrate form a complex prior to the rate-determining step. The results demonstrate that the NBS itself and [RuCl₅(H₂O)]²⁻ will be the most reactive species of NBS and Ru(III) in an acidic environment. The oxidation rate is markedly increased by Ru(III) (3.4 times) acting as a catalyst at ppm concentration. The micellar media of CTAB further accelerates the reaction rate by a factor of 3.6. Ru(III) and CTAB micelles synergistically enhanced the oxidation rate of IPA by sevenfold. A credible mechanism that corresponds with the kinetic findings has been emphasized, alongside an analysis of the Piszkiewicz model, to elucidate the apparent catalytic influence of CTAB micellar environments.