Alcohol Oxidation Mechanism H2CrO4 PCC KMnO4

Oxidation of alcohols can be carried out by a variety of reagents.

The most common mechanisms you’ll study in your organic chemistry course involve Chromic Acid H2CrO4, Pyridinium Chlorochromate PCC, and Potassium Permanganate KMnO4.

The video below shows you how each of these mechanisms will react with primary alcohols to form an aldehyde or carboxylic acid, and a secondary alcohol to form a ketone.

(Watch on YouTube: Alcohol Oxidation Mechanism. Click cc on the bottom right for video transcript)

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This is video 5 in the Orgo Oxidation/Reduction Series. Click for complete series

Ready to test your redox skills? Try the Redox Practice Quiz  and follow along with the Redox Cheat Sheet