[g_orbital]

What is the mechanism of oxidation of primary alcohol into carboxylic acid, by ortho periodic acid (H₅IO₆) and catalytic chrome trioxide (CrO₃)? Below attached the discussed reaction.

I would appreciate your assistance.

[Dan]

I think this is a standard chromium trioxide oxidation mechanism. The H₅IO₆ then oxidises the chromium by-products back up to chromium trioxide, making the chromium trioxide catalytic (which is good because it's a nasty reagent so you don't want to be playing with alot of it)

ie.

Cr(VI) + alcohol --> Cr(IV) [by-products] + acid

Cr(IV) + I(VII) --> Cr(VI) + I(V)