The oxidation of benzyl alcohol [B.A.] by Oxone catalyzed by Keggin type [CoIIW12O40]6- has been studied in the temperature range 303-318 K. The reaction proceeds by the oxidation of [CoIIW12O40]6- to [CoIIIW12O40]5- by Oxone, which then oxidizes benzyl alcohol [B.A.] in a rate determining step generating alcohol free radical. The reaction was found to be inhibited by increase in the [H+] due to protonation equilibria of HSO5 2- which is the active species in rate determining step. Decreasing the relative permittivity of the medium increases the rate of the reaction which is attributed to the formation of an outer-sphere complex between the reactants. The activation parameters were also determined and the values support the proposed mechanism.
