Alcohols - Typical examples of periodate oxidation
- Periodate oxidation is a chemical reaction that can be used to oxidize alcohols.
- In this process, the alcohol is converted into a carbonyl compound.
- Let’s have a look at some typical examples of periodate oxidation.
Example 1: Oxidation of Primary Alcohol
- Primary alcohols can be oxidized to aldehydes by periodate oxidation.
- For example, when ethanol is oxidized using periodate, it forms acetaldehyde.
- The reaction can be represented as follows:
CH3CH2OH + HIO4 -> CH3CHO + H3IO6
Example 2: Oxidation of Secondary Alcohol
- Secondary alcohols can be oxidized to ketones by periodate oxidation.
- Let’s take the example of isopropanol.
- When isopropanol is oxidized using periodate, it forms acetone.
- The reaction can be represented as follows:
(CH3)2CHOH + HIO4 -> (CH3)2CO + H3IO6
Example 3: Oxidation of Tertiary Alcohol
- Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized by periodate oxidation.
- This is due to the absence of a hydrogen atom attached to the carbon with the hydroxyl group.
- Let’s take the example of tert-butanol.
- When tert-butanol is treated with periodate, no oxidation occurs.
- The reaction can be represented as follows:
(CH3)3COH + HIO4 -> No reaction occurs
Mechanism of Periodate Oxidation
- The mechanism of periodate oxidation involves the formation of an intermediate complex.
- The hydroxyl group of the alcohol attacks the triiodide ion, forming an ester-like intermediate.
- This intermediate then decomposes to form the carbonyl compound.
- The overall reaction can be represented as follows:
RCH2OH + HIO4 -> RCHO + H3IO6
Stereochemistry in Periodate Oxidation
- Periodate oxidation can lead to changes in the stereochemistry of the starting alcohol.
- For example, if the starting alcohol is optically active, the product may be obtained as a racemic mixture.
- This is due to the attack of the hydroxyl group on the triiodide ion, which can happen from either side of the molecule.
- Therefore, stereochemistry should be considered while interpreting the results of periodate oxidation reactions.
Applications of Periodate Oxidation
- Periodate oxidation has various applications in organic synthesis.
- It can be used to selectively oxidize primary or secondary alcohols in the presence of other functional groups.
- This selective oxidation allows the precise modification of complex molecules.
- Periodate oxidation reactions are also used in the analysis of carbohydrate structures.
Limitations of Periodate Oxidation
- While periodate oxidation is a useful method for oxidizing alcohols, it has some limitations.
- Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized by periodate oxidation.
- Additionally, certain functional groups, such as double bonds or aromatic rings, can interfere with the reaction.
- Careful consideration of these limitations is necessary for successful application of periodate oxidation.
Summary
- Periodate oxidation is a chemical reaction used to oxidize alcohols.
- Primary alcohols are oxidized to aldehydes, while secondary alcohols are oxidized to ketones.
- Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized by periodate oxidation.
- The reaction involves the formation of an intermediate complex, followed by decomposition to form the carbonyl compound.
- Stereochemistry and limitations should be considered while interpreting the results of periodate oxidation reactions.
References
- Organic Chemistry, Francis A. Carey, Robert M. Giuliano (2018)
- Advanced Organic Chemistry: Part B: Reaction and Synthesis, Francis A. Carey, Richard J. Sundberg (2007)
- Advanced Organic Chemistry, Jerry March (2007)
Primary Alcohol Oxidation
- Primary alcohols undergo periodate oxidation to form aldehydes.
- Example: Oxidation of ethanol with periodate leads to the formation of acetaldehyde.
- Equation: CH3CH2OH + HIO4 → CH3CHO + H3IO6
Secondary Alcohol Oxidation
- Secondary alcohols can be oxidized to ketones using periodate oxidation.
- Example: Oxidation of isopropanol with periodate gives acetone as the product.
- Equation: (CH3)2CHOH + HIO4 → (CH3)2CO + H3IO6
Tertiary Alcohol Oxidation
- Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized by periodate oxidation.
- Example: Oxidation of tert-butanol with periodate does not yield any product.
- Equation: (CH3)3COH + HIO4 → No reaction occurs
Mechanism of Periodate Oxidation
- Periodate oxidation proceeds through the formation of an ester-like intermediate.
- The hydroxyl group attacks the triiodide ion, leading to the formation of the intermediate.
- The intermediate then decomposes, yielding the carbonyl compound.
- Overall equation: RCH2OH + HIO4 → RCHO + H3IO6
Stereochemistry in Periodate Oxidation
- Periodate oxidation can cause stereochemical changes in the starting alcohol.
- If the starting alcohol is optically active, the product may be obtained as a racemic mixture.
- Stereochemistry is important to consider when interpreting the results of periodate oxidation reactions.
Applications of Periodate Oxidation
- Periodate oxidation has applications in organic synthesis.
- It allows for the selective oxidation of alcohols in the presence of other functional groups.
- This selectivity enables precise modifications of complex molecules.
- Periodate oxidation reactions are also used in carbohydrate structure analysis.
Limitations of Periodate Oxidation
- Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized by periodate oxidation.
- Certain functional groups, such as double bonds or aromatic rings, can interfere with the reaction.
- These limitations need to be considered for successful application of periodate oxidation.
Summary of Periodate Oxidation
- Periodate oxidation is a useful method for oxidizing alcohols.
- Primary alcohols are converted to aldehydes, while secondary alcohols are converted to ketones.
- Tertiary alcohols cannot be oxidized by periodate oxidation.
- The reaction proceeds through an intermediate formation and subsequent decomposition.
- Stereochemistry and limitations must be considered for interpreting the results.
References
- Organic Chemistry, Francis A. Carey, Robert M. Giuliano (2018)
- Advanced Organic Chemistry: Part B: Reaction and Synthesis, Francis A. Carey, Richard J. Sundberg (2007)
- Advanced Organic Chemistry, Jerry March (2007)
Factors Affecting Periodate Oxidation
- The rate of periodate oxidation can be influenced by various factors.
- Temperature: Higher temperatures generally increase the reaction rate.
- Concentration of Periodate: Increasing the concentration of periodate can enhance the oxidation reaction.
- Solvent: The choice of solvent can impact the reaction rate and selectivity.
- pH: The reaction rate can be affected by the pH of the solution.
- Catalysts: Certain catalysts can be used to accelerate the reaction.
Example of Factors Affecting Periodate Oxidation
- Let’s consider the oxidation of a primary alcohol, such as ethanol, to acetaldehyde using periodate.
- At higher temperatures, the reaction rate would be faster, resulting in a quicker conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde.
- If the concentration of periodate is increased, the oxidation reaction will proceed more rapidly.
- The choice of solvent can also affect the reaction rate and selectivity.
- pH and catalysts can further influence the efficiency of the periodate oxidation reaction.
Oxidation of Alcohols: PCC and PDC Reagents
- Besides periodate oxidation, other reagents can also oxidize alcohols.
- One such example is the PCC (pyridinium chlorochromate) reagent.
- PCC is commonly used to selectively oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes.
- Another example is the PDC (pyridinium dichromate) reagent, which can oxidize primary and secondary alcohols to either aldehydes or ketones, respectively.
Example: Oxidation of Alcohol using PCC
- Let’s consider the oxidation of 2-propanol to propanal using PCC.
- The reaction proceeds as follows:
(CH3)2CHOH + PCC -> (CH3)2CHO + CrO3 + HCl
Example: Oxidation of Alcohol using PDC
- Now let’s consider the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde using PDC.
- The reaction can be represented as:
CH3CH2OH + PDC -> CH3CHO + CrO3 + HCl
Differences between Periodate Oxidation and PCC/PDC Oxidation
- Periodate oxidation is selective for primary and secondary alcohols, while PCC and PDC reagents can oxidize both primary and secondary alcohols.
- Periodate oxidation results in the formation of aldehydes or ketones, depending on the alcohol type.
- PCC and PDC reagents directly convert primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones.
- The choice between periodate oxidation and PCC/PDC oxidation should be based on the specific requirements of the reaction.
Applications of PCC and PDC Oxidation
- PCC and PDC oxidations are widely employed in organic synthesis and laboratory procedures.
- These oxidations are often used for the conversion of alcohols to carbonyl compounds in various research and industrial applications.
- PCC and PDC oxidations are performed under mild conditions and are compatible with many other functional groups.
Summary
- Periodate oxidation, PCC, and PDC oxidations are methods used to selectively convert alcohols into carbonyl compounds.
- Periodate oxidation is specific for primary and secondary alcohols, while PCC and PDC oxidations can target both primary and secondary alcohols.
- The choice of oxidation method depends on the desired product and reaction conditions.
- Factors such as temperature, concentration, solvent, pH, and catalysts can influence the efficiency of these reactions.
- Periodate oxidation, PCC, and PDC oxidations find applications in organic synthesis and various chemical processes.
References
- Organic Chemistry, Francis A. Carey, Robert M. Giuliano (2018)
- Advanced Organic Chemistry: Part B: Reaction and Synthesis, Francis A. Carey, Richard J. Sundberg (2007)
- Advanced Organic Chemistry, Jerry March (2007)