The oxidation of quinoxaline by ozone in aqueous solution is investigated. The chemical and kinetic evolution of the oxidation process at varying pH are followed by means of semi-batch and batch ozonation experiments. Results indicate that quinoxaline ozonation can develop according to both radical and ionic mechanisms whose relative occurrence can be varied by means of addition to the reacting system of radical scavengers or ozone decomposition promoters. It is shown that each mechanism involves an initial attack of ozone to both the homocyclic and heterocyclic rings of quinoxaline. Pyrazinedicarboxylic acid is formed as a stable final product in ionic ozonation, whereas it appears as an intermediate still reactive towards ozone in radical ozonation. Despite this, the radical ozonation of quinoxaline appears to be more selective than ionic zonation with respect to production of pyrazinedicarboxylic acid. Reaction schemes are proposed to account for the observed kinetic behaviors and product formations.
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