A synergistic combination of SDS and TX-100 for the catalytic oxidation of an aromatic alcohol in aqueous media

In this experiment, an unexampled oxidation of an aromatic alcohol (4-chlorobenzyl alcohol) was carried out by Cr(VI) in aqueous mixed micellar medium under pseudo-first-order reaction condition at 30 °C. The spectrophotometric kinetic study exhibited excellent relative catalytic performances of micro-heterogeneous micellar aggregation in single and mixed micellar media (using anionic SDS and nonionic TX-100 surfactants). In the perspective of reaction rate control, the CMC of surfactants (in single or mixed micellar form) was explored to play a significant role. Herein two organic hetero-aromatic promoters, Phen and Bpy, were also used to scrutinize their effect on reaction dynamics in both the micellar media. The fabrication of mixed micelle was confirmed by UV, 1 H NMR and 2D NOESY study.