A synergistic combination of SDS and TX-100 for the catalytic oxidation of an aromatic alcohol in aqueous media

Abstract

In this experiment, an unexampled oxidation of an aromatic alcohol (4-chlorobenzyl alcohol) was carried out by Cr(VI) in aqueous mixed micellar medium under pseudo-first-order reaction condition at 30 °C. The spectrophotometric kinetic study exhibited excellent relative catalytic performances of micro-heterogeneous micellar aggregation in single and mixed micellar media (using anionic SDS and nonionic TX-100 surfactants). In the perspective of reaction rate control, the CMC of surfactants (in single or mixed micellar form) was explored to play a significant role. Herein two organic hetero-aromatic promoters, Phen and Bpy, were also used to scrutinize their effect on reaction dynamics in both the micellar media. The fabrication of mixed micelle was confirmed by UV, 1H NMR and 2D NOESY study.