ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 53, Number 6
JKCSEZ 53(6)
December 20, 2009 

A Kinetics pathway of oxidation of Cefpodoxime Proxetil by permanganate in alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength has been studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction showed first order kinetics in permanganate ion concentration and an order less than unity in cefpodoxime acid and alkali concentrations. Increasing ionic strength of the medium increase the rate. The oxidation reaction proceeds via an alkali-permanganate species which forms a complex with cefpodoxime acid. The latter decomposes slowly, followed by a fast reaction between a free radical of cefpodoxime acid and another molecule of permanganate to give the products. Investigations of the reaction at different temperatures allowed the determination of activation parameters with respect to the slow step of proposed mechanism and fallows first order kinetics. The proposed mechanism and the derived rate laws are consistent with the observed kinetics.