The initial rate of oxidation of benzaldehyde in benzene solution in the absence of catalysts and inhibitors is given by the relation (-d[O
2
]/d
t
) = ([
R
H]
2
[O
2
])/(
b
[
R
H]
2
+
c
[O
2
]). The reciprocals of the constants
b
and
c
vary with temperature according to the Arrhenius equation, the corresponding activation energies being 6.0 ± 0.5 and 17.5 ± 1.0 kcal/mole respectively. The difficulty of interpreting the relation in terms of the mechanism proposed by Bolland & Gee (1946) for photochemical and peroxide catalyzed oxidations is pointed out. It is suggested that this kinetic behaviour is of widespread occurrence in uncatalyzed oxidations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.