Oxidation of methylmalonic acid by cerium(IV). Evidence for parallel reaction pathways

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jp963316v

The reaction between methylmalonic acid (MeMA) and Ce(IV) ion in 1 M sulfuric acid/D₂SO₄ has been studied by means of ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR. When MeMA is in excess, acetic acid, hydroxymethylmalonic acid, and pyruvic acid are formed as stable end products. When Ce(IV) is in stoichiometric excess, acetic acid is the only product. Approximately 70-80% of the MeMA forms rapidly acetic acid with hydroxymethylmalonic acid and pyruvic acid as reactive intermediates. The remaining MeMA reacts along parallel pathways and forms two intermediates, which slowly convert to hydroxymethylmalonic acid and pyruvic acid, respectively.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/jp963316v

J. Phys. Chem. A 1997, 101, 2327-2331
2327
Oxidation of Methylmalonic Acid by Cerium(IV). Evidence for Parallel Reaction Pathways
Per Olav Kvernberg,† Eddy W. Hansen,‡ Bjørn Pedersen,† Asbjørn Rasmussen,† and
Peter Ruoff*,§
Department of Chemistry, UniVersity of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway, SINTEF Oslo,
P.O. Box 124 Blindern, N-0314 Oslo, Norway, and School of Technology and Science, StaVanger College,
P.O. Box 2557 Ullandhaug, N-4004 StaVanger, Norway
ReceiVed: October 24, 1996; In Final Form: January 21, 1997X
The reaction between methylmalonic acid (MeMA) and Ce(IV) ion in 1 M sulfuric acid/D2SO4 has been
studied by means of 1H- and 13C-NMR. When MeMA is in excess, acetic acid, hydroxymethylmalonic acid,
and pyruvic acid are formed as stable end products. When Ce(IV) is in stoichiometric excess, acetic acid is
the only product. Approximately 70-80% of the MeMA forms rapidly acetic acid with hydroxymethylmalonic
acid and pyruvic acid as reactive intermediates. The remaining MeMA reacts along parallel pathways and
forms two intermediates, which slowly convert to hydroxymethylmalonic acid and pyruvic acid, respectively.
Introduction
by another route, where two additional intermediates form.
These intermediates react slowly by first-order processes to form
respectively MeMAOH and Pyr with half-lives of 6-8 h.
Ce(IV) compounds are important oxidants in many fields of
chemistry.1-5 In the Belousov6-Zhabotinsky7 (BZ) reaction,8
Ce(IV) oxidation of aliphatic organic substrates that contain a
reactive C-H bond, as in malonic acid and derivatives, is a
necessary component process for obtaining sustained concentra-
tion oscillations. While the inorganic mechanism for the
oscillatory BZ reaction is well established9,10 and has success-
fully been modeled by the Oregonator11 and related models,12
still little is known about the reactions of the organic subset.
Considerable “detective work” is necessary to identify the
various components in this subset.13,14
Experimental Section
MeMA was purchased from Fluka (>99%) and dissolved in
1 M H2SO4 (Merck) or D2SO4/D2O solution (Norsk Hydro).
The purity of MeMA was checked by 1H-NMR. Reacting
solutions were made by dissolving (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 (Merck,
analytical quality) in H2SO4 or D2SO4 and adding a correspond-
ing solution of MeMA. The reaction volume was 5 mL.
1H- and 13C-NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian XL
300 spectrometer. Sixty four scans were accumulated with a
sweep width of 4000 Hz, a repetition time of 3.752 s, and a
pulse angle of 17°. All NMR measurements were performed
at 23 ( 2 °C. Because the chemical shifts are affected by the
presence of paramagnetic Ce(III) ions, peaks were identified
by adding the compound in question to the solution and
observing a corresponding increase in the peak intensity. Partly
overlapping peaks were resolved with the program PEAKFIT.20
In the experiments reported here we have not excluded
atmospheric oxygen from the reaction solution. A test where
oxygen was removed by Ar-bubbling through initial reagent
solutions and through the reaction mixture during a NMR run
showed very similar kinetics of the same intermediates and final
products as under aerobic conditions. Although this indicates
that oxygen probably has little effect on the Ce(IV)-MeMA
reaction, more detailed studies are necessary to look for possible
oxygen effects.
The methylmalonic acid (MeMA) BZ reaction15 has shown
a variety of unusual dynamical behaviors such as excitabilities
of oxidized and reduced steady states and even bistability in a
closed system.16 A kinetic study of the reaction between MeMA
and Ce(IV) has been performed by Ruoff and Nevdal17 mainly
by using initial rates and UV spectroscopy. Although the
stoichiometry of the Ce(IV)-MeMA reaction is expected to be
CH3CH(COOH)2 + 6Ce(IV) + 2H2O f
CH3COOH + 6Ce(III) + 6H+ + 2CO2 (R1)
iodometric analysis showed that during a 20 h period only 4.7
mol of Ce(IV) were consumed per mole of MeMA.17 Ruoff
and Nevdal also found that under certain conditions a precipitate
appeared, while the recorded 1H-NMR spectrum of the reaction
mixture showed an unidentified product together with pyruvic
acid as a probable intermediate.
Earlier NMR investigations on MeMA-BZ systems and
subsystems18,19 encouraged us to study in further detail the
MeMA-Ce(IV) system. In this paper we report new results
where intermediates and products of the MeMA-Ce(IV)
reaction were followed quantitatively with different initial
concentrations. It was found that most of the MeMA (∼70-
80%) reacts rapidly to form acetic acid (HOAc). For this main
pathway NMR spectra indicate the presence of small amounts
of hydroxymethylmalonic acid (MeMAOH) and pyruvic acid
(Pyr), as reactive intermediates. The remaining MeMA reacts
MeMAOH was synthesized using the method by An et al.21
The purity of the MeMAOH was tested with 1H- and 13C-NMR.
The presence of Ce(III) in a formed precipitate was found
by electron-emission spectroscopy using a Philipps 515 scanning
electron microscope.
Simulation calculations were done by using the programs
FACSIMILE/CHECKMAT22 and the FORTRAN subrouine
LSODE.23
Experimental Observations
Stoichiometric Excess of MeMA. In a Ce(IV)-MeMA
solution the main product is acetic acid (HOAc). Besides HOAc
two new intermediates “preMeMAOH” and “prePyr” have been
found (Figure 1). After about 1.5 h ([Ce(IV)]0 ) 0.2 M,
† University of Oslo.
‡ SINTEF Oslo.
§ Stavanger College.
X Abstract published in AdVance ACS Abstracts, March 1, 1997.
S1089-5639(96)03316-6 CCC: $14.00 © 1997 American Chemical Society

2328 J. Phys. Chem. A, Vol. 101, No. 12, 1997
Kvernberg et al.
Figure 1. 1H-NMR spectrum of a 0.1 M MeMA and 0.2 M Ce(IV) reaction solution in 1 M D2SO4 taken 7.7 h after the start of reaction. Peak
identification: (1) HOAc satellites caused by 13CH312COOH coupling; (2) HOAc satellites caused by 12CH313COOH coupling; (3) HOAc spinning
sidebands; (4a) Pyr (keto-form); (4b) Pyr (diol-form) superimposed on MeMA satellite; (5) MeMA satellite due to 13CH312CH(COOH)2 coupling;
(6) MeMA spinning sidebands; (7) one of the doublet peaks of nondeuterated MeMA (CH3CH(COOH)2; (8) quartet caused by nondeuterated
MeMA (CH3CH(COOH)2); (9) spinning sideband of the water peak; (10, 11, 12) unidentified peaks.
Figure 2. (A) Concentration profiles of a 0.1 M MeMA and 0.2 M Ce(IV) reaction solution in 1 M D2SO4 recorded during the first 20 h. (B)
Concentration changes in preMeMAOH, MeMAOH, prePyr, Pyr, preMeMAOH + MeMAOH, and prePyr + Pyr for the same system as in A. Note
that preMeMAOH + MeMAOH and prePyr + Pyr remain practically constant after the respective maxima of preMeMAOH and prePyr have been
reached.
[MeMA]0 ) 0.1 M) the HOAc and MeMA concentrations reach
constant values, indicating that all Ce(IV) has been consumed.
At this point preMeMAOH and prePyr concentrations reach their
maxima (Figure 2), and then they decay slowly, by first-order
processes, to MeMAOH and pyruvic acid (Pyr), respectively
(Figure 3). A quantitative analysis shows that the sums of
preMeMAOH + MeMAOH concentrations and prePyr + Pyr
concentrations are practically constant, indicating that the
“preforms” are indeed precursors of MeMAOH or Pyr (Figure
2B). After approximately 40 h preMeMAOH and prePyr
disappeared and the system reached equilibrium. When MeMA
is in stoichiometric excess, the only products are HOAc,
MeMAOH, and Pyr. Small amounts of formic acid have been
observed to appear rapidly in the beginning of the reaction
(Figure 1). However, once formed, the formic acid concentra-
tion remains unchanged until the end of the reaction.
Figure 4 shows equilibrium concentrations of HOAc, Me-
MAOH, Pyr, and MeMA when the initial MeMA concentration
is 0.05 M with varying initial Ce(IV) concentrations. Solid lines
show the results of model computations (see below). It was
found that as long as the initial MeMA concentration is in
stoichiometric excess, the number of moles of consumed Ce(IV)
per mole MeMA lies in the range 4.5-5.0. Interestingly, this
value is in the same range as found previously (4.7)17 by
iodometric analysis when Ce(IV) was in 10-fold molar excess
over MeMA.
Excess of Ce(IV). When more than 6 equiv of Ce(IV) are
present, all MeMA reacts to form HOAc. However, also in
this case we see the buildup and decay of preMeMAOH and
prePyr, but now only very small equilibrium concentrations of
MeMAOH or Pyr could be detected. Also here traces of formic
acid appear early in the reaction and remain constant until

Oxidation of Methylmalonic Acid by Ce(IV)
J. Phys. Chem. A, Vol. 101, No. 12, 1997 2329
SCHEME 1
Other Reactions. We have tried to follow the reactions
between Ce(IV) and MeMAOH or Pyr by NMR, but these
reactions are too fast and were finished before the sample could
be inserted into the spectrometer.
As reported earlier,17 the formation of a white precipitate was
observed, especially at an initial [MeMA]0/[Ce(IV)]0 ratio of
1:4. Sometimes, instead of an insoluble solid matrix,17 crystals
are observed. Electron-emission spectroscopy of the precipitate
showed unequivocally the presence of Ce, indicating a Ce(III)
compound, which we consider to be Ce(NH4)SO4.
Figure 3. Intermediates preMeMAOH and prePyr show a first-order
decay after they have reached their maximum at the end of the Ce(IV)
consumption period. Decay constants: kpreMeMAOH ) 0.091 h-1 (r )
0.9982), kprePyr ) 0.084 h-1 (r ) 0.9892).
Unidentified Peaks. We have not been able to identify peaks
10, 11, and 12 (Figure 1), but corresponding intermediates/
products must be present in quite small amounts.
Discussion and Model Calculations
Comparison with Iodometric Results. Ruoff and Nevdal17
have studied the stoichiometry of process R1 by measuring the
amount of consumed Ce(IV) during an approximately 20 h
reaction period when Ce(IV) was in 10-fold molar excess over
MeMA. It was found that only 4.7 mol of Ce(IV) reacted for
each mole of MeMA. An explanation of the discrepancy
between the previous17 findings and the present observation that
under stoichiometric excess of Ce(IV) all MeMA reacts to
HOAc is that a 20 h period is not sufficient (Figure 5) for
process R1 to reach equilibrium.
Figure 4. Experimental and computed equilibrium concentrations.
Initial MeMA concentration is 0.05 M. Solid lines combine calculated
equilibrium concentrations with [Ce(IV)]0 increments of 0.05 M. Near
[Ce(IV)]0 ) 0.3 M the increment was 0.01 M. Model (Scheme 4)
computations were performed using the same rate constant values as
in Figure 8.
Kinetic Considerations. The previous studies17 also showed
that the Ce(IV)-MeMA reaction, in analogy with the corre-
sponding malonic acid reaction,25 follows a sequential mech-
anism with probably an initial complexation between Ce(IV)
and methylmalonic acid (Scheme 1).5,26-28
In an earlier proposed reaction scheme17 it was assumed that
MeMAOH originates from methylmalonyl radicals only. The
present findings (Figure 2B) clearly show that also preMe-
MAOH is a precursor of MeMAOH. However, the rather long
half-life of preMeMAOH makes it unlikely that this compound
is related to any radical species!
In view of the above results, we propose the existence of
parallel reaction pathways from MeMA to acetic acid (Figure
6). The main route forms rapidly HOAc via MeMAOH and
Pyr as reactive intermediates. The remaining MeMA reacts by
separate pathways via preMeMAOH and prePyr.
Further support for this interpretation can be obtained by
analyzing the initial rates forming HOAc, preMeMAOH, and
prePyr. In the case of parallel reaction channels “i” with
identical or similar reaction orders in Ce(IV) and MeMA, the
quotients of reaction velocities Vi/Vk should be constant. In other
words, there should be an intrinsic proportionality between
concentrations of produced species for each channel. Figure 7
shows that this is in fact the case: a plot of [preMeMAOH]
and [prePyr] against [HOAc] gives two straight lines as long
as HOAc, preMeMAOH, and prePyr are produced.
Possible Chemical Nature of preMeMAOH and prePyr.
Compared with MeMAOH and Pyr, the increased chemical
shifts of the methyl group in preMeMAOH and prePyr (Figure
1) suggest the presence of electron-withdrawing groups. A
possibility may be that Ce(IV) in complexes like in Scheme 1
Figure 5. Concentration profiles of a 0.05 M MeMA and 0.4 M Ce-
(IV) reaction solution in 1 M D2SO4 recorded during the first 20 h.
The first-order decay constants for preMeMAOH and prePyr are
kpreMeMAOH ) 0.039 h-1 (r ) 0.9423); kprePyr ) 0.105 h-1 (r ) 0.9888).
equilibrium is reached. We consider formic acid to originate
rapidly from small malonic acid impurities in the MeMA.24
Figure 5 shows the concentration profiles of a reacting system
with initial concentrations of 0.05 M MeMA and 0.4 M Ce(IV).
In such a system even after 20 h significant amounts of
preMeMAOH and prePyr are still present.

2330 J. Phys. Chem. A, Vol. 101, No. 12, 1997
Kvernberg et al.
Figure 6. Proposed diversions from the main reaction path in the
Ce(IV) oxidation of MeMA.
Figure 8. Model computations testing the kinetic behavior of the model
(Scheme 4). Initial concentrations: [MeMA]0 ) 0.1 M, [Ce(IV)]0 )
0.2 M. Rate constant values: k1 ) 2.5 M-1 h-1, k2 ) 3.1 M-1 h-1, k3
) 1000 M-1 h-1, k4 ) 0.1 h-1, k5 ) 500 M-1 h-1, k6 ) 2000 M-1 h-1
.
Symbols indicate experimental results.
SCHEME 3
Figure 7. Concentrations of formed preMeMAOH and prePyr in
relation to formed HOAc during the first 1.5 h of the reaction shown
in Figure 2. The linear relationship suggests an additional parallel path
from MeMA forming preMeMAOH and prePyr.
SCHEME 4
SCHEME 2
leads to an increase in the chemical shift of the methyl group
and that preMeMAOH and prePyr may correspond to less
reactive Ce(IV) complexes of MeMAOH or Pyr.
The work of Gao et al.13 and Sirimungkala et al.14 have
identified a variety of possible radical recombination products
in the Ce(IV)-malonic acid reaction. Similarily, preMeMAOH
and prePyr may be related to analogous recombination products.
In the case of preMeMAOH the deviation pathway may be due
to methylmalonyl radical recombination. The main pathway
is assumed to be the hydrolysis of methylmalonyl radicals
forming MeMAOH (Scheme 2). For the “prePyr pathway” the
deviation may occur in a similar manner, where the one-electron
oxidation of CH3C•(OH)COOH radicals represents the main path
(Scheme 3).
decay of the preforms to MeMAOH and Pyr. It may be possible
that the preforms of MeMAOH and Pyr are complexes between
two Ce(IV) ions and (CH3C(COOH)2)2 (forming preMeMAOH)
or two Ce(IV) and (CH3C(COOH)(OH))2 (forming prePyr). In
the case of preMeMAOH each of the two Ce(IV) may interact
with both sets of the adjacent carboxyl groups, analogous to
the Ce(IV)-MeMA complex (Scheme 1). In prePyr, one
Ce(IV) may bind to the two COOH groups, while the other
Ce(IV) may form a complex with the OH groups.29 Also
recombinations between radical species CH3C•(COOH)2 (Scheme
2) and CH3C•(COOH)(OH) (Scheme 3) may be possible, and
we wonder whether some of the unidentified peaks are related
to “mixed” radical recombination products.
It should be noted, that the two Ce(IV) equivalents needed
to oxidize the radical recombination products to MeMAOH and
Pyr (Schemes 2 and 3) must be incorporated in preMeMAOH
and prePyr, because no further acetic acid is formed during the

Oxidation of Methylmalonic Acid by Ce(IV)
J. Phys. Chem. A, Vol. 101, No. 12, 1997 2331
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A Simple Model. To test the kinetic behavior of a parallel
reaction pathway, we have, for the case of preMeMAOH,
studied a simple model (Scheme 4). Because prePyr and Pyr
are present in low concentrations, we have not included them
in the calculations. All processes are assumed to be first-order
in Ce(IV) and organic substrates, respectively.
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To account for linear double-reciprocal plots,17 a rapid
equilibrium between complexed and uncomplexed MeMA has
to be assumed (Scheme 1). Although complexed and uncom-
plexed MeMA could in principle be observed by NMR, a rapid
1
equilibrium will result in only one “average” H-methyl peak
(as is observed). In the model we have so far not distinguished
between uncomplexed and Ce(IV)-complexed MeMA and
MeMAOH. The formation of Pyr and HOAc are rapid
processes, while k1, k2, and k4 are rate determining.
Practically quantitative agreement can be obtained between
this simple model and experiments (Figure 4 and Figure 8)
showing that the parallel reaction pathway gives an adequate
description.
However, further work will be needed to understand in more
detail the chemistry of the radical and nonradical interactions
and their significance in the dynamic behavior of MeMA-BZ
systems.
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Acknowledgment. We thank Ola Risvik at Stavanger
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