Abstract
The kinetics of the omicron-toluidine-glucose reaction has been investigated spectrophotometrically in glacial acetic acid under varying conditions of [glucose], [omicron-toluidine] and [acetic acid] at different temperatures. omicron-Toluidine has been found to form a 7:3 coloured product with glucose as revealed by the Job's method. Formation of red colour (lambda(max) = 540 nm) and green colour (lambda(max) = 630 nm) has been observed. The reaction proceeds through the formation of enamine as an intermediate, which is the feature of nucleophilic addition-elimination type condensation mechanism. Series of enediol re-arrangements and nucleophilic addition-elimination reactions of enamine intermediate are found responsible for the formation both of (red and green) chromogens. A mechanism with the associated reaction kinetics is assigned and discussed. Activation parameters have also been calculated using the Arrhenius and Eyring equations.