Visual isotope effects: Demonstrating the primary kinetic isotope effect in the chromium(VI) oxidation of 2-propanol-d_8 and methanol-d _4

摘要

The kinetic isotope effect in the Cr(VI) oxidation of commercially available 2-propanol-d_8 or methanol-d_4 is readily demonstrated using 4 mL reaction vials projected with a document camera. For the case of 2-propanol, the demonstration reveals how a rate-determining step can be identified with an isotopically labeled compound, providing students with an example of how mechanistic evidence is experimentally determined. The 2-propanol oxidation demonstration has been documented in a YouTube video, which also discusses the relevant chemistry.