Oxidative study of gabapentin by alkaline hexacyanoferrate(III) in room temperature in presence of catalytic amount of Ru(III) – a mechanistic approach

The kinetics of oxidation of gabapentin by hexacyanoferrate(III) in aqueous alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 0.5 mol dm−3 was studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction is of first order in [HCF(III)] and of less than unit order in [alkali]. The reaction rate is independent upon [gabapentin]. Effects of added products, ionic strength and dielectric constant of the reaction medium have been investigated. Oxidative product of gabapentin was identified. A suitable mechanism has been proposed. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of mechanism are calculated. The activation parameters of the mechanism are computed and discussed.