Primary and secondary alkyl groups in alkylbenzenes are oxidized to form carboxylic acids. The oxidation is achieved through the use of oxidizing agents such as chromic acid or acidic/alkaline potassium permanganate.
Which functional groups in alkylbenzenes are oxidized to form carboxylic acids, and what reagents are commonly employed in this oxidation?
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In alkylbenzenes, the alkyl side chain is oxidized to form carboxylic acids. The specific functional groups targeted for oxidation are the carbon-carbon bonds in the alkyl chain. Commonly employed oxidizing reagents for this transformation include chromates (e.g., chromic acid, CrO₃) and permanganates (e.g., potassium permanganate, KMnO₄). These strong oxidizing agents break the carbon-carbon bonds in the alkyl side chain, resulting in the removal of the entire side chain and the formation of a carboxylic acid group on the aromatic ring. This process is known as side-chain oxidation and is a crucial method for synthesizing aromatic carboxylic acids from alkylbenzenes.