CAREER NETWORK World's one of the largest Research Career Network Benefits Academic & Industry jobs Project funding Visiting faculty positions Visiting scientist positions Invited talks and more... Register FREE Global Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2012, 3: 6 Research Article Spectral and mechanistic study of the ruthenium(III) catalysed oxidation of fluoroquionoline antibacterial agent, norfloxacin by alkaline permanganate Rudragouda K. Patil, Sharanappa T. Nandibewoor, Shivamurti A. Chimatadar P.G. Department of Studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad 580003, India Abstract The ruthenium(III) catalysed oxidation of norfloxacin by alkaline permanganate was studied spectrophotometrically at 25oC. The reaction between permanganate and norfloxacin in alkaline medium exhibits 1:1 stoichiometry. The oxidation products were identified by IR Spectra, LC-ESI-MS and 1H NMR technique and found to be and 1-ethyl-6-fluoro-2-hydroxy-4-oxo-7-piperazin-1-yl-1,4-hydro-quinoline-3-carboxylic acid. The reaction shows first order dependence on permanganate and ruthenium(III) concentration and apperent less than unit order dependence each in norfloxacin and alkali concentrations. Ionic strength had no effect on the rate of reaction and increasing the solvent polarity of the medium increases the rate of reaction. Initial added product did not affect the rate significantly. A mechanism involving the formation of complex between catalyst and substrate has been proposed. The activation parameter were computed with respect to the slow step of the mechanism and discussed. Keywords Oxidation; Norfloxacin; Catalysis; Ruthenium(III); Kinetics; Spectral