Master NCEA Level 3 Organic Chemistry Reaction Schemes. Prepare with multiple choice questions, complete with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam with our comprehensive tools!

Multiple Choice

Under Cr2O7^2-/H+ reflux, oxidation of a secondary alcohol produces which product?

The main idea is that secondary alcohols get oxidized to ketones under strong oxidizing conditions like Jones reagent (chromium(VI) in acidic solution) with reflux. The carbon bearing the hydroxyl is attached to two carbon groups, so removing the hydrogen and forming a carbonyl converts it into a ketone. This reagent is powerful enough to push oxidation to completion for secondary alcohols, but for primary alcohols it goes all the way to carboxylic acids (via an aldehyde intermediate). Since the substrate is secondary, the product is a ketone.

The main idea is that secondary alcohols get oxidized to ketones under strong oxidizing conditions like Jones reagent (chromium(VI) in acidic solution) with reflux. The carbon bearing the hydroxyl is attached to two carbon groups, so removing the hydrogen and forming a carbonyl converts it into a ketone. This reagent is powerful enough to push oxidation to completion for secondary alcohols, but for primary alcohols it goes all the way to carboxylic acids (via an aldehyde intermediate). Since the substrate is secondary, the product is a ketone.