Oxidative conversion of thiourea and N-substituted thioureas into formamidine disulfides with acidified chloramine-T: a kinetic and mechanistic approach

The kinetics of oxidation of thiourea and N-substituted thioureas namely: N-methylthiourea, N-allylthiourea N-phenylthiourea and N-tolylthiourea to the corresponding formamidine disulfides by sodium N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide or chloramine-T (CAT) in the presence of HClO₄ has been investigated at 278 K. The reactions follow identical kinetics for all thioureas, being first order each with respect to CAT]_o, Thiourea]_o and H⁺]. Ionic strength of the medium and addition of p-toluenesulfonamide or halide ions have negligible influence on the rate. The solvent isotope effect has been studied using D₂O in the case of the oxidation of thiourea. Decrease in the dielectric constant of the medium by adding methanol decreases the rate. The reactions were studied at different temperatures, and the composite activation parameters have been computed. An isokinetic relationship was observed with β=314 K, indicating that enthalpy factors control the reaction rate. Under comparable experimental conditions, the rate of oxidation of thioureas increases in the order: N-allylthiourea>N-phenylthiourea>N-methylthiourea>thiourea>N-tolylthiourea. A mechanism involving the interaction of conjugate acid (CH₃C₆H₄SO₂NHCl) and substrate giving an intermediate complex, in a slow step, has been suggested. The derived rate law is in agreement with the observed kinetics.