Evaluation of rate constants and thermodynamic parameters of oxidation of chloramphenicol by cas in mixed solvent media

Ceric ammonium sulphate (CAS) is well known to oxidize carbon compounds in various acid media via the formation of 1:1 cerium (IV) – substrate complex which undergoes dissociation unimolecularly in the rate determining step. In the present work, the structure reactivity correlation in oxidation reaction of chloramphenicol, a powerful antibiotic has been ascertained using ceric ammonium sulphate as a versatile oxidizing agent in acetic acid – water 50% (v/v) media. The reaction was found to be first order with respect to the concentration of the oxidant and fractional order with respect to concentration of chloramphenicol. Various thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated. Based on these parameters, the change in microbial activity of Chloramphenicol with respect to oxidation of alcoholic groups has been followed. A probable mechanism has been proposed