Oxidation of Alcohols

In General primary (1^o) alcohols get oxidized to aldehydes and to carboxylic acids if using an appropriately powerful oxidizing reagent.  Primary alcohols have two hydrogens (explicitly shown below).

Secondary (2^o) alcohols can be oxidized to ketones.

Teritary (3^o) alcohols typically do not undergo oxidation.

Oxidizing Reagents

Pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC)

• Mild oxidizing reagent for converting 1^o alcohols to aldehydes.

Sodium dichromate or potassium dichromate (Na₂Cr₂O₇)

• Powerful oxidizing reagent.  Oxidizes primary alcohols to carboxylic acid and secondary alcohols to ketones

H₂CrO₄, H₂SO₄, H₂O (sometimes simply written CrO₃/H⁺)

• Same as Na₂Cr₂O₇ - Powerful oxidizing reagent.  Oxidizes primary alcohols to carboxylic acid and secondary alcohols to ketones