AWK, correct me please if I'm wrong, The benzyl ketone oxidizes to benzoic acid because of the enol formation which has a double bond that can be oxidized(cut) and hence forms a benzoic acid, It doesn't have to do with the benzylic carbon oxidation since it has no hydrogens right?
About the cyclic compound, (1,1-dimethyltetraline as you called it), can you please inform me how you think, if you oxidize the upper benzylic carbon to COOH (benzylic carbon oxidation since it has hydrogens), what happens to the lower alkyl chain since it cant be oxidized by that specific reaction.
- Holly thanks you for the reference, Ill give it a read.