[pzona69]

We've been doing alcohol reactions in school, and this is what we were given as a basic format for oxidation (this is for a primary alcohol obviously):

RCH₂OH --> RCHO + H₂ (catalyst: PCC/CH₂Cl₂)

What I don't understand is how PCC or dichloromethane work as catalysts for this oxidation. I'm familiar with sulfuric acid and aluminum chloride as catalysts in different reactions, but I don't understand how this works.  The only help I've gotten in searching for it is different sources that say there is a chromium "byproduct," which makes it seem like this isn't truly a catalyst at all, but a reactant. Could someone explain this, or even just give a simple mechanism?

[Kryolith]

You are right. PCC is a reactant and not a catalyst. Dichloromethane is the solvent. Anyway hydrogen is not a product of this reaction.

[macman104]

Attached is the mechanism for the reaction of PCC.

[pzona69]

Okay, that makes a little more sense, especially now that I know the PCC isn't a catalyst. I'm not sure why we would have learned that it was though.  Thanks for the help