The kinetics of formation of the thioester involved as an intermediate in the reaction between chromium(VI) and DL-penicillamine in aqueous media (pH = 1–8) containing different buffers (acetate, citrate, and phosphate) has been studied by monitoring the disappearance of chromium(VI) at 370 nm and application of the initial-rates method. The initial rate is directly proportional to the initial concentrations of both oxidant and reductant, and the rate vs. pH plots show bell-shaped profiles. The reaction is catalyzed by the buffer present in the medium, the catalytic power of each buffer increasing in the order acetate < citrate < phosphate. This is explained in terms of a mechanism involving the formation of a complex between the acidic form of the buffer and HCrO4− previous to the formation of the thioester. Potassium chloride and sodium sulfate do not seem to have important specific effects on the reaction rate, their effect being that of an acceleration of the reaction as the ionic strength increases. On the contrary, the sulfates of magnesium, manganese(II), and zinc (the latter only in the presence of acetate buffer) have specific effects, indicating the probable formation of several complexes. The spectrophotometric detection of the thioester at 430 nm has allowed to confirm some of the conclusions extracted from the measurement of initial rates, and suggests that this intermediate might approach a steady-state behavior in the three buffers at pH > 6.25, and also that a bimolecular reaction with DL-penicillamine might be involved in its destruction.
