Carboxylic acids are obtained from primary alcohols through oxidation using oxidizing agents like potassium permanganate or potassium dichromate (Jones reagent). Aldehydes can also be converted to carboxylic acids using mild oxidizing agents.
How are carboxylic acids obtained from primary alcohols and aldehydes, and what are some common oxidizing agents used in these reactions?
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Carboxylic acids can be obtained from primary alcohols and aldehydes through oxidation reactions. In the case of primary alcohols, a two-step oxidation process occurs. First, the alcohol is oxidized to an aldehyde using an oxidizing agent like PCC (pyridinium chlorochromate). Further oxidation of the aldehyde to a carboxylic acid is achieved by using a stronger oxidizing agent such as KMnO₄ or CrO₃. Common oxidizing agents for aldehydes to carboxylic acids include dichromates (e.g., CrO₃ or Na₂Cr₂O₇) and permanganates (e.g., KMnO₄). These reactions play a crucial role in the synthesis of carboxylic acids from starting materials with different functional groups.