Oxidation of a secondary alcohol with PCC yields what?

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Multiple Choice

Oxidation of a secondary alcohol with PCC yields what?

The oxidation state change happening to a secondary alcohol under PCC stops at forming a ketone. In a secondary alcohol, the carbon bearing the OH is attached to two carbon groups; when oxidized, the C–OH bond is converted to a C=O, giving a ketone (R-CO-R'). PCC is a mild oxidant, so it efficiently converts secondary alcohols to ketones but doesn’t push oxidation further. An aldehyde would come from a primary alcohol, where the carbonyl carbon is bonded to one carbon and one hydrogen. A carboxylic acid would require stronger or more prolonged oxidation. So the product is a ketone.

The oxidation state change happening to a secondary alcohol under PCC stops at forming a ketone. In a secondary alcohol, the carbon bearing the OH is attached to two carbon groups; when oxidized, the C–OH bond is converted to a C=O, giving a ketone (R-CO-R'). PCC is a mild oxidant, so it efficiently converts secondary alcohols to ketones but doesn’t push oxidation further. An aldehyde would come from a primary alcohol, where the carbonyl carbon is bonded to one carbon and one hydrogen. A carboxylic acid would require stronger or more prolonged oxidation. So the product is a ketone.

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