Degradation and photodegradation of tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) in the presence of iron (III) in aqueous solution

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0045-6535(97)00107-0

The dark degradation of tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) was investigated, It is a slow process which is favored in acidic medium, There is a hydrolysis of an imide group with the scission of the C-N bond giving rise to the triacetyl derivative (TAED'). When allowed to stand for longer times a second acetyl group is eliminated with the formation of the symetric diacetyl derivative (DAED). The degradation of TAED photoinduced by iron (m) was also investigated. It appears a faster degradation which does not lead to the same products. The process only involves 'OH radicals formed upon photolysis of aquocomplex of iron (III). They preferentially abstract a hydrogen from the methylene group. The degradation is then assisted by oxygen and leads to the formation of carbonylated oxidation products.