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)