Kinetic Evidence of Perborate Oxidation of N‐Methylaniline in Acetic Acid as Borate Assisted Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation

Abstract Sodium perborate, a true peroxo salt, generates peracetic acid on standing in glacial acetic acid; the oxidations of N‐methylaniline and N,N‐dimethylaniline with fresh solutions of perborate are second order, but the specific oxidation rate of N‐methylaniline increases with [perborate]0. Sodium percarbonate, a dry carrier of hydrogen peroxide, does not generate peracetic acid in glacial acetic acid on aging, and the oxidations of the anilines are clean second order. On dissolution, perborate affords hydrogen peroxide and a borate, and the latter assists the oxidation of N‐methylaniline but not N,N‐dimethylaniline.