redox - 5-4-2011 at 18:00
Hello All.
Recently I have been trying earnestly to oxidize a primary alcohol (ethanol) to its corresponding carboxylic acid (acetic acid) by potassium
permanganate.
I have tried all the different conditions that I could think of. The internet gives methods, but not conditions. My university books give principles
and mechanisms, but (once again) no conditions.
Thus, my question is:
What are the exact conditions that convert ethyl alcohol to acetic acid by KMnO4?
Thanks for the help (I hope)!
[Edited on 6-4-2011 by redox]
Lambda-Eyde - 5-4-2011 at 22:28
1 M NaOH or KOH, according to Wikipedia. If you want a more reliable source you could try searching yourself. Considering how common and simple this reaction is, it is well
documented in literature.
redox - 6-4-2011 at 11:30
I realize this. I have already read Wikipedia and searched quite a bit.
solo - 6-4-2011 at 20:40
.....here are a few articles you should look for.....solo
OXIDATION OF BENZYL ALCOHOLS WITH OXONE AND SODIUM BROMIDE (synthetic communications vol32, #14, 2115-23, 20020).pdf
Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Carboxylic Acids at the Nickel Hydroxide Electrode.pdf
OxidationNaNO2 of primary allylic alcohols to carbonyla cmp..djvu
Oxidations and Reductions.pdf
redox - 7-4-2011 at 03:34
Thanks for the help guys, I think I found what I was doing wrong.
In my equation, I hadn't taken into account that my product was the potassium salt of acetic acid, not acetic acid itself.
Thus, a simple acid-workup is necessary.
Problem Solved