The Kinetics and Mechanism of the Ferrate(VI) Oxidation of Hydroxylamines

Aqueous solutions of potassium ferrate(VI) cleanly and rapidly oxidize hydroxylamine to nitrous oxide, N-methylhydroxylamine to nitrosomethane, N -phenylhydroxylamine to nitrosobenzene, and O-methylhydroxylamine to methanol and nitrogen. The kinetics show first-order behavior with respect to each reactant and a two term component representing acid dependent and independent pathways. A general mechanism involving intermediate formation coupled with a two-electron oxidation is proposed.