Chapter 19: Carboxylic Acid
s
Oxidation of Primary Alcohols
(review Chapter 15)
Reaction type: Oxidation - reduction
Summary
Primary alcohols,
RCH
2
OH
, can be oxidised to carboxylicacids,
RCO
2
H
, under aqueous conditions.
Typical reagents are based on aqueous Cr (VI):
chromic acid, H
2
CrO
4
, chromate salts,
e.g.
Na
2
CrO
4
,dichromate salts,
e.g.
K
2
Cr
2
O
7
The oxidation goes first to the aldehyde then the carboxylic acid.
R
can be alkyl or aryl.
Related Reactions
Oxidations of Alcohols
©
Dr. Ian Hunt
, Department of Chemistry
