Spectrophotometric detection of methyl cellulose–manganate(VI) intermediate complex in the oxidation of methyl cellulose by alkaline permanganate

The formation of (methyl cellulose (MC)–Mn(VI)O2−4)MC−+MnO4−↔K3C2→kbMC–Mn(VI)O42−where C2 is a metastable state that interconverts into the [MC–Mn(VI)O4−] ester intermediate, during the oxidation of methyl cellulose polysaccharide at pH≥12, was followed kinetically by spectrophotometric methods. The reaction was found to be first-order kinetics in [MnO−4] and a fractional order in [MC]. Kinetic and spectrophotometric data confirmed the base-catalysed formation of Mn(VI) intermediate complex. A mechanism in agreement with the experimental data was assumed and discussed.