Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Camphor oxidation

morsagh - 27-2-2016 at 06:32

I have problems with oxidation of camphor by nitric acid, it made some liquid phase but after base extraction when i add acid nothing crystalized. Can somebody help me what to do?

Magpie - 27-2-2016 at 10:21

As you know, camphor is a cyclic ketone. What reaction product are you expecting upon its oxidation?

UC235 - 27-2-2016 at 11:35

Quote: Originally posted by Magpie  
As you know, camphor is a cyclic ketone. What reaction product are you expecting upon its oxidation?


Like cyclohexanone oxidation to adipic acid, it ring-opens to camphoric acid. If the starting camphor is not racemate (aka: natural D/(+)-Camphor instead of racemic synthetic (which constitutes most of the unspecified product on the market)), the camphoric acid is chiral and can be used for resolving amines.