Kinetic study of Ru(VI)‐catalyzed oxidation of cyclic alcohols by hexacyanoferrate(III) in aqueous alkaline medium

The kinetics of the oxidation of cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol, 2methylcyclohexanol, and cycloheptanol by hexacyanoferrate(III) ions in mild alkaline medium has been studied in the presence of traces of ruthenium(VI) ≈ 10−7Mat constant ionic strength (0.26M). The results suggest that the oxidation of the studied cyclic alcohols proceeds via the formation of a complex between Ru(VI) and the substrate which slowly decomposes, giving the reduced form of ruthenium which was reoxidized to Ru(VI) in a fast step by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) ions. The product study shows the production of the corresponding ketone.